RIDGEWAY; CON HOLD:There were no surprises in the Ridgeway Ward where a clear majority of more than 200 votes cleared the way for Andrew Bennett to become councillor.

Mr Bennett, who campaigned as a Liberal Democrat during the last Ridgeway elections in 2000, said he was delighted with winning and pleased with the huge turnout of 45 per cent.

During that election Mr Bennett lost the vote by four per cent. But this time he had a 19 per cent lead over his closest candidate Adelaide Dudman, with 36 per cent of the votes.

He said: "There are a number of issues both in the Ridgeway area, and in the Wroughton and Chiseldon ward which borders us.

"There is some feeling that the provision of services between the rural and urban areas is not treated the same, so I hope that as councillor I can bring those services to the rural areas."