NINE seats changed hands in the county council elections on Thursday, including the Conservative gain in the Link ward in Malvern from the Liberal Democrats.

Independent Kidderminster Hospital gained five seats, bringing their total to six, taking four from Labour (Puxton, Hoobrook, Severn and Cookley, Wolverley and Wribbenhall) and one from the Conservatives (Rock and Bewdley). The Liberal Party Focus Save Our Hospital took Hurcott (Kidderminster) from Labour and the Liberal Democrats took Church Hill (Redditch) from Labour by just 27 votes.

The other Conservative gain was Habberley and Blakebrook in Wyre Forest from Labour.

Malvern Hills Division results

Croome: Robert Bullock (Conservative) 2,503; Andrew Boughton (Liberal Democrat) 1,618; Ann Storey-Day (Green) 472. Conservative hold. Turnout: 67.69 per cent.

Hallow: Alwyn Davies (Conservative) 3,233; David Cropp (Liberal Democrat) 1,989. Conservative hold. Turnout: 70.39 per cent.

Malvern Chase: Diane Rayner (Liberal Democrat) 2,928; Alex Stewart-Cleary (Conservative) 1,969. Liberal Democrat Hold. Turnout: 68.11 per cent.

Malvern Langland: Jennette Davy (Liberal Democrat) 1,499; Joyce Draper (Conservative) 1,293; Matthew Mead (Labour) 821; Robert Dowler (Green) 294. Liberal Democrat hold. Turnout: 59.02 per cent.

Malvern Link: Beryl Hickling (Conservative) 2,768; David Williams (Liberal Democrat) 1,870; Mark Dodsworth (Labour) 1,248. Conservative gain. Turnout: 68.44 per cent.

Malvern Trinity: Jeremy Webb (Liberal Democrat) 2,941; David McKerracher (Conservative) 1,794. Liberal Democrat hold. Turnout: 68.70 per cent.

Powick: Tom Wells (Liberal Democrat) 3,636; Toby Bruce-Morgan (Conservative) 1,719. Liberal Democrat Hold. Turnout: 72.67 per cent.

Tenbury: Reg Farmer (Conservative) 2,117; George Price (Liberal Democrat) 1,165; Michael Jenner (Green) 395. Conservative hold. Turnout: 69.15 per cent.