CONSERVATIVE Robert Key has won a sixth consecutive election in the Salisbury constituency.

The shadow science minister increased his majority to 11,142 and received 25,961 votes.

It was a disappointing night for the Liberal Democrats, with their candidate, Richard Denton-White, polling 14,819 votes - a drop of 1,005 from the 2001 figure.

Labour candidate Clare Moody made minor gains and increased the party's vote from 9,199 to 9,457.

Mr Key, who was first elected Salisbury MP in 1983, thanked his supporters after climbing on to the podium following the result, which was announced shortly after 4.30am.

"Thank you for putting your trust in me," he said. "I will care, as ever, for your needs and problems, and I look forward to doing that with great relish.

"I will seek to ensure a vibrant and successful economy, with a high quality of life and standard of living. Salisbury is steeped in heritage but always looking to the future. It is the finest constituency in the country.

"You can be sure that your voice will be heard at Westminster."

Defeated Mr Denton-White looked on stonily, with the Liberal Democrat result lower than he had hoped, but he vowed to continue his fight.

"Yet again, the anti-Tory vote has been split," he said. "But the Liberal Democrats remain the main challengers. We will be back next time with a more vigorous campaign to win the seat."

Clare Moody and her fellow Labour supporters were buoyed by the news that their party had been returned to government with an overall majority.

"I've had a really lovely response from the people of Salisbury and for that I am enormously grateful," she said. "I look forward to seeing you all over the next four to five years, as we continue to work for Salisbury constituency as a whole."

Turnout in the constituency was 68 per cent, up almost three per cent on last time.

Despite fears over the security of postal voting and after more than 120 papers had to be reissued in Landford following an administrative error, about 12,000 people applied for postal votes and 9,250 voters returned them.

United Kingdom Independence Party candidate Frances Howard said that, while Europe had a low profile nationally during the election campaign, in south Wiltshire, she had received great support.

"We are the party that has told you more about Europe than any other, and you will thank us for that," she said.

Three-time Green candidate Hamish Soutar had his best result ever, with 1,555 votes. His children, Mirabel (six) and Seamus (two), stayed up to watch their father increase his number of votes by 50 per cent.

"The Green Party has made steady progress," said Mr Soutar. "We are here to make sure that the other parties put green issues on the agenda."

Independent candidate John Holme came last, with 240 votes. Mr Holme said he was glad he had stood.

"For me, the election was not about politics but about issues," he said. "These are issues fundamental to the country - ethics and morality. There is more and more legislation but I say this will not get to the root of the country's social problems."

A team of 50 counters spent more than six hours checking and totalling the votes, as the candidates and their supporters looked on, while keeping an eye on the national election coverage.

There were measured responses as marginal Labour seats fell to the Liberal Democrats or Conservatives, but relief from Labour supporters as the party retained an overall majority in parliament.

In Westbury, Andrew Murrison retained his seat for the Conservatives, and in Devizes, deputy Conservative Party leader Michael Ancram also held on to his seat.

The Devizes seat includes Tidworth, Ludgershall, the Collingbournes, Nether-avon, Upavon and Enford.

The Westbury constituency includes Codford and Mere.