THE Conservatives have lost control of Gloucestershire County Council for the first time in eight years.

There were 53 seats were available in yesterday's elections, down from 63 previously following boundary changes which have just come into force.

With 27 seats needed to gain control of the council, no party won overall majority.

The Conservatives won 23 seats, Liberal Democrats 14, Labour and Labour & Cooperative nine, UKIP three, Green one, two independents and one People Against Bureaucracy seat.

In the North Cotswolds, the conservatives lost a seat in the Bourton and Northleach ward with David Thorpe narrowly missing out to Liberal Democrat Paul Hodgekinson who won by 59 votes.

Pete Bungard, chief executive of the council, said: “We were planning for significant change whatever the result because of the boundary review and the fact that 26 of our previous councillors decided to stand down this time.

“In reality, it’s too soon to know how things will work out politically as the new members need time to consider what this means for them.

“In the mean time, it’s business as usual for all of our customers.”

Turnout was lower than the previous election in 2009 – 31.79 per cent down from 40 per cent four years ago.

The Cotswolds saw a 34.57 per cent turnout.

Cotswold Division results: 

Bourton and Northleach

Paul Hodgekinson Liberal Democrat 1275 (39 per cent) Elected

David Allan Thorpe Conservative 1216 (37 per cent) 
Christopher Cooke UKIP 591 (18 per cent) 
Merilyn Edith Hill Labour 170 (5 per cent)

Campden-Vale

Lynden Stowe Conservative 1818 (62 per cent) Elected
Michael Fitzgerald UKIP 481 (16 per cent) 
Peter John Sipthorp Liberal Democrat 419 (14 per cent)
Glyn Ford Labour & Co-operative 230 (8 per cent)

Stow

Conservative 1643 (57 per cent) Elected

Nigel Moore Conservative 1643 (57 per cent) Elected

Rob Woodhouse UKIP 514 (18 per cent)

Jude Walker Labour 332 (11 per cent)
Andrew Maclean Green Party 219 (8 per cent)

Danny Loveridge Liberal Democrat 185 (6 per cent)

Tewkesbury Borough Division

Winchcombe and Woodmancote

Roger Wilson Conservative 1927 (62 per cent) Elected

Sue Hillier-Richardson Liberal Democrat 663 (21 per cent) 

Susan Elizabeth Sturgeon Labour 516 (17 per cent)