Residents Association councillors have hailed their "huge victory" in Epsom and Ewell while Liberal Democrats have expressed sadness at being wiped out.

After the Tory victory and Liberal Democrat losses in the general election, the local Conservatives managed to seize three seats in a Lib Dem ward, but just one seat from the RA, when the votes were counted this afternoon.

The final result was 31 RA, four Tory and three Labour councillors. Last time around, there were 26 RA councillors, six Liberal Democrats, three Tories and three Labour councillors.

RA Councillor Eber Kington, who was re-elected in Ewell Court, said: "It’s the largest majority we have had in the last three or four elections.

"It’s a huge victory for the Residents’ Association."

He said the Liberal Democrats have had a presence on the council since at least 1987 and it is a pity that the council does not now represent the whole political spectrum.

He said: "The national trend is people were not were not willing to vote Liberal Democrat this time around."

RA Councillor Clive Woodbridge welcomed the fact that the people of Epsom had "bucked" the national trend and voted for the RA, not Conservative.

Of their victory, Coun Woodbridge said: "It’s incredible when you consider the election was taking place on the same day as the general election when Conservatives did very well.

"It just shows Epsom and Ewell is a very special place and people looked at our record in local government. We’re very, very pleased."

The Residents Association took three seats from the Lib Dems across Stamford and Town wards and three seats from Conservatives across Ruxley and Stoneleigh. But they lost a seat to the Tories in Woodcote.

Liberal Democrat Julie Morris lost her seat in College Ward where Conservative candidates swept to victory.

After losses by the Lib Dems both nationally and locally, Ms Morris said: "It’s sad that the Liberal Democrats appeared to have taken the blame for just about everything.

"I blame the national media, particularly certain newspapers. It’s a very, very sad day for democracy."

She was the only Liberal Democrat standing for election in the former Liberal Democrat ward this year.