CONSERVATIVES were delighted to have regained Leominster, a seat lost to the defection of former Tory MP Peter Temple-Morris to Labour.

Despite Conservative fears about the possible effect of Mr Temple-Morris' personal vote, Bill Wiggin actually increased the Conservative majority from 8,835 to 10,637.

Labour candidate Stephen Hart paid tribute to Leominster's former MP.

He said Mr Temple-Morris had been a hard working and diligent constituency MP and a man of independent mind.

The chairman of the Leominster Conservative Association Judith Hereford said it was "absolutely tremendous" to have the party back in control in Leominster.

"We have a young and dynamic MP and will really go from strength to strength," she said.

Mr Wiggin said his top priority would be to fight for a fair deal for people living in the countryside.

In his campaign, Mr Wiggin had emphasised health and education but he did not feel the national party had missed a trick by not following the same example.

"I think our policies were well intentioned but were misinterpreted by the media. I thought William Hague had a fantastic campaign despite the vilification he had to put up with, while Labour looked rattled throughout," he said.

Liberal Democrat Celia Downie was disappointed to have finished second.

"We had a terrific reception on the doorstep. It is hard to understand what has happened," she said.

Pippa Bennett increased the Greens share of the vote in her first election after taking over from the well-known Felicity Norman.