THE CONSERVATIVES made a small gain at the Stroud District Council elections, meaning it is still the largest party with 23 members.

They gained two Labour seats including the ward held by Labour’s General Election candidate David Drew, who did not stand for re-election to SDC.

It was taken by Conservative Haydn Sutton, who gained nearly 100 votes over Labour’s Paul Mapplebeck.

Eastington and Standish, which was held by Labour’s Ken Stephens, who resigned in March, also went blue.

However, despite now holding most of the seats, the Tories still do not have a majority and the authority will continue to be run by an alliance of Labour, Greens and Lib Dems made up of 27 councillors.

Labour’s Geoff Wheeler, who held his Dursley seat, will continue as council leader.

Labour now has 18 members, the Greens six, Lib Dems three and the Conservative No Group one.

After a tense night of counting at Stratford Park Leisure Centre, councillors praised the turn out, with Conservative member Liz Peters hailing the 80 per cent figure for her Chalford ward as a record.

The turn out for Minchinhampton was even higher at 96 per cent.

It was a long night for councillors, with the first district results being announced about 5.30am after the general election count.

There was an emotional moment when the result for Nailsworth was announced – the seat formerly held by highly-regarded Conservative district councillor Paul Carter, who died in November.

It was held for the Tories by Rowland Blackwell, who was standing in Mr Carter’s memory.

After the result was announced, Cllr Blackwell, said: “This is for Paul.”

The election brings in some well-known faces including former Stroud town councillor Chas Townley and former Stroud mayor and current town councillor Kevin Cranston.