Despite significant Liberal Democrat gains in Bushey, the Conservatives cemented their hold on power in Hertsmere in yesterday's elections.

Out of the 15 seats up for grabs in 13 wards across Hertsmere, the Tories were victorious in 11 seats. The Lib Dems took three and Labour just one.

The results leave the Conservatives with a massive 19 seat majority at Hertsmere Borough Council.

However, Lib Dem candidate Anita Gamble successfully defended her Bushey St James seat, while 27-year-old Laura Richards (Lib Dems)won a seat in the same ward, after Jean Conway's retirement earlier in the year.

And in their perhaps their biggest success of the night, Roger Kutchinsky added to the Lib Dems' stranglehold in Bushey by winning Michael Colne's old seat in Bushey North.

However, Conservative wins in Bushey Heath, Aldenham East and Aldenham West and elsewhere in the borough ensured they maintained the numerical dominance in the council chamber.

In Borehamwood, Frank Ward, father of Watford MP Claire, lost his seat to the Tories for the first time in 24 years, after he stood as an independent following an acrimonious exit from the Labour Party.

And to round off a successful result for the tories, they also took all 12 seats on Aldenham Parish Council and won Borehamwood Town Council for the first time ever, to extend their domination in Hertsmere.