The Liberal Democrats have won De Parys Ward in the Bedford Borough Elections, after David Sawyer almost doubled the vote of his Conservative opponent in the Ward, which had been a split Lib Dem/Tory ward before it was reduced to a single seat. David Sawyer will now be the sole Councillor for the urban Bedford ward, after a thumping victory in which he finished nearly four hundred votes clear of his Conservative opponent.
The Liberal Democrats have won the rural wards of Eastcotts and Harrold, beating the Conservatives into second place convincingly in both cases, while also triumphing in Wootton Ward, winning its two seats in another emphatic victory. New Councillor Sarah Holland takes over in Eastcotts from Christine McHugh, who stood down at this election. Cllr Nick Charsley holds his seat in Harrold, which he won from the Conservatives in May 2006. Cllrs Judith Cunningham and Tim Hill held their Wootton seats, with a thumping victory over both their Conservative and Ukip challengers.
Follow the latest Bedford Borough election results news live as it happens here. This story will be updated throughout the day live with all the results as they are announced.
Counting for the unitary Bedford Borough Council Elections 2009 has begun. The first results are expected later on this morning. The latest news will be reported here as it happens.
Voting for the local and European elections has now closed. Counting for the Bedford Borough Council elections begins tomorrow at 9.30am. bedfordlibdems.org.uk will have the latest election results news tomorrow as it happens, with the first results expected later on in the morning. Counting for the European election takes place on Sunday.
With polls open until 10pm tonight, don't forget to vote in today's crucial local and European elections. The Liberal Democrats are fighting to win seats in urban and rural areas across the Borough in the important elections for the new unitary Bedford Borough Council, which faces the task of turning around many years of high-taxing Tory failure on the County Council. Meanwhile, the issues the Lib Dems have been fighting on in the European elections include action to tackle cross-border crime and terrorism and climate change. Make your vote count in today's two vital elections!