Lib-Dems hold Dorchester but it's a different story across West Dorset and a blow for opponents of new council offices

Despite a vociferous campaign against new council offices in Dorchester, opponents failed to kick out the Tories in the district elections yesterday

The Conservatives actually increased their seats on the 48-seat council, from 28 to 32.

Lib-Dems, who had hoped to make gains, saw their seats decrease from 14 to 11.

The results will be a blow to the Stop Council Offices Now (SCON) campaign, which called on the Tories to abandon plans to build new offices in Charles Street as part of a multi-million pound regeneration of the area.

However, Dorchester Town Crier Alistair Chisholm will continue to be a thorn in the Tories' side. He got in as an independent candidate at the Frome Valley and Cerne ward, taking a seat from a Tory.

And at Dorchester, Lib Dems retained seven out of eight seats in the four town wards.

Full results:

Dorchester East Ward, turnout: 50%

Stella Jones,  Liberal Democrat, 1046 (33.13%); Timothy Harries,

  Liberal Democrat, 902 (28.57%); Jonathan Halewood,  Conservative, 478 (15.14%); Barry Thompson,   Labour and Co-operative, 382 (12.10%); Lesley Begley,  Labour and Co-operative, 349 (11.05%).

Dorchester North Ward, turnout: 51%

Andrew James Canning,  Liberal Democrat, 945 (28.59%); Susie Hosford,  Liberal Democrat, 943 (28.53%); Vivienne Jennifer Allan, Conservative, 516 (15.61%); Peter Arne Read,  Conservative, 457, (13.83%); Tony Gould,  Labour, 257 (7.78%); Leonard Ernest Heath,   Independent, 187 (5.66%).

Dorchester South Ward, turnout: 57%

Molly Rennie,  Liberal Democrat,1134 (36.16%); Robin Potter,   Liberal Democrat, 977 (31.15%); Roy Heeler, Conservative, 540 (17.22%); Tom Anderson,  Labour and Co-operative,485 (15.47%);

Dorchester West Ward, turnout: 51%

David Trevor Jones,  Liberal Democrat, 923 (28.24%); David John Barrett ,  Independent, 731 (22.37%); David Taylor,   Liberal Democrat, 597 (18.27%): Innes Macdonald Robertson,  Conservative

366 (11.20%); Vicki Black,  Labour and Co-operative,329 (10.07%); Lee Rhodes,  Labour and Co-operative, 322 (9.85%).

For full election results across West Dorset, go to dorsetforyou.com