The Conservatives have gained overall control of St Albans council after winning four seats from Labour and the Lib Dems in the local elections.

One-third of the council was up for re-election and the fact that local elections were held on the same day as the General Election was reflected in the far higher than usual turnout in district council wards.

The biggest shocks were in Batchwood and London Colney wards respectively where both Labour leader, Martin Leach, and deputy leader, Jacob Quagliozzi, lost their seats to Conservative candidates.

Another casualty was veteran Lib Dem councillor Geoff Churchard in Marshalswick North ward where the seat was won by Tory Lyn Bolton.

The new council is made up of 32 Conservatives, 16 Lib Dems, eight Labour , one Green and an Independent.

Council leader, Cllr Julian Daly, admitted that the result was ‘better than expected’ for his party.

He went on: “I don’t want to change our style and we do, as a council, represent everyone.”

He pledged to continue consulting with the other group leaders on major issues.

Labour councillor Mal Pakenham said losing the Batchwood seat was a particular surprise but not so much in London Colney where the demographic has changed with the inclusion of the Napsbury estate.

He maintained that neither result was a reflection on the work Martin Leach and Jacob Quagliozzi had carried out in their wards but more to do with the local and General Election coinciding.