Former Ashburton mayor Lib Dem John Nutley topped the poll in the Ashburton and Buckfastleigh ward with 1,574 votes beating Tory rivals Stuart Barker and Charlie Dennis close behind.

It was a welcome return to Teignbridge for Mr Nutley who in the last local election lost his seat by just four votes.

'I am extremely please to be top of the poll this time.

'My aims are to help as many people as I can throughout the community.'

He said care for the elderly and securing the future of the Ashburton Buckfastleigh hospital were high on his list of priorities in the life of the new council.

He said of his party's poor showing nationally: 'It was

extremely disappointing.

'I don't feel the public realised the amount of good work we did with our policies.

'We stopped the Tories from running away with everything.'