COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION: THE closest fought tussle in the Kennet area was in Marlborough where Conservative candidate Marian Hannaford scraped through.

Coun Hannaford, who is also a town and district councillor, beat her closet rival Nick Fogg, an Independent, by just nine votes. Close behind in third place was Caroline Jackson, also a town councillor, for the Liberal Democrats.

A recount was ordered due to the closeness of the result after which Coun Hannaford was confirmed as the victor. The seat was gained by the Conservatives as it was previously held by Liberal Democrat Margaret Boulton who had a 48 seat majority over the Conservatives.

Coun Hannaford said: "It was a very close run and clean race."

Coun Fogg, who is also a town and district councillor, said: "I'm not complaining on losing out.

"I think the general election was a big factor. I'm immensely proud of the votes I received. I took on three party machines and I got close to winning."

In Devizes two seats were closely contested. Margaret Taylor, currently mayor of Devizes, was re-elected as she fought off a challenge from her town council colleague and former mayor Paula Winchcombe, in the newly named Devizes North seat.

The seat is almost the same area as her previous Devizes seat.

Coun Taylor won with a majority of 230 and said it had been a fair contest.

She said: "I thank the people of

Devizes for their support. I will

continue to do my best for Devizes residents."

Coun Winchcombe, who was standing for the county council elections for the first time, said: "I am delighted that I have reduced Margaret's majority. To unseat a sitting member is always a tough task. I intend to stand in four years time and hope I am successful."

Coun Winchcombe's husband Charles fared better as he was elected to the Devizes South seat with a 173 majority over Liberal Democrat Katherine Callow.

The seat has been reorganised and includes Roundway and new housing estates such as Nursteed Meadows.

Coun Winchcombe said: "It was a newly created ward so no-one knew how it was going to go."

In both Devizes seats the Devizes Guardians candidates polled 20 per cent of the votes. Devizes Guardians leader Tony Duck said: "We had hoped to have done better but I think people were focused on the general election and so they were voting on party political lines."

This was the first time the Guardians had fielded candidates at the county elections.

The second longest serving member of the county council was re-elected. Pat Rugg won the new Bromham and Potterne seat with a comfortable 931 majority.

Coun Rugg has been on the county council since 1975 and has overseen the fourth boundary change to political divisions. She said: "I enjoy the work and I want to carry on doing my best for residents."

Others who were re-elected were Jerry Willmott in the new Lavington and Cannings seat with a majority of 1,125 and Chris Humphries in

Aldbourne and Ramsbury who had a majority of 1,037.