VOTERS in the fringe villages and towns around Swindon made their feelings about being swallowed up by its urban sprawl known in the local elections.

The results for the Wiltshire County Council election came in at about noon yesterday with no surprises as the Tories retain control.

At the heart of the campaigns for most of the winning candidates were fears about Swindon's expansion.

The elections were held on the same day as the General Election but the counting of ballots did not start until 10am yesterday morning.

Before the elections, the Conservatives had 27 seats on the council, the Lib Dems 12, Labour three, and independent members four.

The final results for the county saw the Conservatives gaining one seat to give them 28, the Lib Dems winning four more seats to give them a total of 16. Labour remained the same at three, and there were two independent seats.

The Tories had 41.83 per cent of the votes cast, the Lib Dems, 36.62, and Labour 14.78 per cent.

In the seat of Cricklade and Purton, the Lib Dems managed to retain their seat but now they have a new councillor representing them.

Helen Dixon, 52, lives in Purton and runs a gift shop in Highworth. She stood after existing councillor Brian Atfield announced he would be standing down.

She said: "I am very pleased. I have worked hard in Purton as a North Wilts district councillor.

"I am going to fight hard to try and prevent the expansion of Swindon into our communities. I will help in any way I can."

In Wootton Bassett North, Conservative Mollie Groom retained the seat she has held since 1997.

As part of her manifesto she said she would always listen to people, would continue to work to protect the rural buffer.

In Wootton Bassett South, Toby Sturgis, 58, of Great Somerford, kept his seat for the Conservatives.

He said he would fight Swindon's expansion, but also raised recycling and car parking as key issues.

In Aldbourne and Ramsbury, property tycoon Christopher Humphries, 60, retained his seat for the Tories.

He said: " I am truly honoured by the support I've received from the public.

"I hope I can repay their confidence in me by my actions as a county councillor."

There was also no change in Minety where Carole Soden, of Crudwell, managed to keep her Conservative seat.

The main issues for her during the election were always to work with local communities, protect them from inappropriate development, especially from the Swindon direction, and support the rural economy.

RESULTS

Minety

Elected: Carole Soden (CON) 3,521

NOT ELECTED: John Cooper (Lib Dem) 1,641.

Pauline Smith (Lab) 370

Aldbourne and Ramsbury

ELECTED: Christopher Humphries (Con) 2,392

NOT ELECTED: Nic Coome (UKIP) 249.

Debra Davis (Lib Dem) 1,355

Stephanie Mabbett (Lab) 654

Wootton Bassett North

ELECTED: Mollie Groom (Con) 1,993.

NOT ELECTED: Susan Ford (Lab) 629.

Deborah Gann (Lib Dem) 1,416.

Wootton Bassett South

ELECTED: Toby Sturgis (Con) 2,534.

NOT ELECTED: Philip Allnatt (Ind) 199.

Louise Mortlock (Lib Dem) 1,981

Ellis Webb (Lab) 785

Cricklade & Purton

ELECTED: Helen Dixon (Lib Dem) 2,222

NOT ELECTED:Anthony Clements (Con) 1983

Frederick Price (Lab) 712