Labour has reduced the Liberal Democrat majority within Watford Borough Council by one seat - the only change in an otherwise predictable election.

Mohammed Taj (Lab) won Vicarage ward with 911 votes, with Abrar Shah (Lib Dem) coming second with 791 votes.

The seat had previously been held by Mohammed Ajab (Lib Dem), who retired this year.

The only other suprises as results were revealed at Watford Colosseum this morning were that Lib Dem candidate Emma Hines-Randall took Holywell Ward by just 18 ballots from Labour challenger Fred Grindrod, following a recount. Councillor Hines-Randall replaces Jenny McGovern (Lib Dem), who did not seek re-election.

In addition, Conservative group leader Andrew Mortimer breathed a sigh of relief after holding off a challenge from Russell Willson (Lib Dem) for his Nascot seat.

After a full recount, Councillor Mortimer took 1,080 votes to 971 for Mr Willson.

Elsewhere in Watford, Ken Broadhurst (Green) retained his Callowland seat, Rabi Martins (Lib Dem) countinues as councillor for Central ward, and Fawziyyah Qureshi replaces Khalid Mahmood (both Lib Dems) in Leggatts.

George Derbyshire (Lib Dem) faced close competition from Malcolm Meerabux (Con) in Park ward but won with a majority of 290, while Hugh O'Hanlon (Lib Dem) beat Richard Southern (Con) into first place with a majority of 152 votes.

Watford Borough Council now consists of 28 Liberal Democrats, three Labour, three Conservatives and three Green councillors, including Mayor Dorothy Thornhill (Lib Dem).

Full results

Callowland

Kenneth Frederick Brodhurst Green 729 ELECTED
Ian Cloke Labour 234
Patricia Gollop Liberal Democrat 193
Patricia Lees Conservative 187
Turnout: 26 per cent
GREEN HOLD

Central

Richard Haxton Bamford Conservative 219
Joanna Grindrod Labour 323
Rabi Martins Liberal Democrat 620 ELECTED
Clare Victoria Pitkin Green 278
Turnout: 27 per cent
LIBERAL DEMOCRAT HOLD

Holywell

Carole Ann Bamford Conservative 191
Fred Grindrod Labour 736
Emma Hines-Randall Liberal Democrat 754 ELECTED
Helen Elizabeth Wynne Green 74
Turnout: 31 per cent
LIBERAL DEMOCRAT HOLD

Leggatts

Karen Rebecca Best Conservative 505
Ian Brandon Green 464
Geoffrey O'Connell Labour 280
Fawziyyah Qureshi Liberal Democrat 634 ELECTED
Turnout: 36 per cent
LIBERAL DEMOCRAT HOLD

Meriden

Pamela Elizabeth Bell Conservative 416
Janice Rosemary Brown Liberal Democrat 717 ELECTED
Ian Andrew Martin Robert Pitkin Green 81
Daniel Scott Labour 299
Turnout: 29 per cent
LIBERAL DEMOCRAT HOLD

Nascot

Marion Joyce Chambers Labour 125
Antony Tristram Cooke Independent 18
Sally Rose Ivins Green 137
Andrew Mortimer Conservative 1,018 ELECTED
Russell Willson Liberal Democrat 971
Turnout: 41 per cent
CONSERVATIVE HOLD

Oxhey

Michael Jones Labour 135
Anthony Phillips Poole Liberal Democrat 1,070 ELECTED
Sarah Anne Son Conservative 460
Neal Webber Green 115
Turnout: 35 per cent
LIBERAL DEMOCRAT HOLD

Park

George Derbyshire Liberal Democrat 1,366 ELECTED
Alex MacGregor Mason Green 82
Malcolm Meerabux Conservative 1,076
Mohammed Riaz Labour 127
Turnout: 47 per cent
LIBERAL DEMOCRAT HOLD

Stanborough

Jonathon Cordell Conservative 373
Adeyemi Frederick Oshunniyi Labour 241
Kevin Pettifer Green 87
Andrew James Wylie Liberal Democrat 917 ELECTED
Turnout: 31 per cent
LIBERAL DEMOCRAT HOLD

Tudor

Pauline Louise May Labour 192
Rachel Sarah Neill Green 72
Hugh O'Hanlon Liberal Democrat 847 ELECTED
Richard Southern Conservative 695
Turnout: 39 per cent
LIBERAL DEMOCRAT HOLD

Vicarage

David Degen Green 141
David Ealey Conservative 256
Abrar Shah Liberal Democrat 791
Mohammed Tanveer Taj Labour 911 ELECTED
Turnout: 39 per cent
LABOUR GAIN

Woodside

Caryn Elaine Argun Green 80
Ian Gordon Brown Liberal Democrat 780 ELECTED
Joseph Harrison Conservative 345
John Young Labour 225
Turnout: 28 per cent
LIBERAL DEMOCRAT HOLD