THE Conservative Party has consolidated its position as the ruling party on Kennet District Council as the last remaining Labour member lost her seat.

Margaret Taylor, who has represented Devizes East ward for Kennet for the last 12 years, received condolences from members of all parties as she narrowly lost her seat, coming fourth in the poll for the three seats that were taken by Peter Evans and Ray Parsons for the Tories and Tony Duck for Devizes Guardians.

With one result still to be declared on Friday, the Conservatives had won 32 of Kennet's 43 seats, with five independents, two Devizes Guardians, one member of the UK Independence Party and one Liberal Democrat.

Among the returning Tories is a new councillor who is by no means a new face at Kennet.

Sue Evans was the face and voice of Kennet District Council for 22 years as a member of the reception team at the council's Browfort HQ in Devizes.

Now she will see how the other half live as a new member for the Devizes North ward. She will join her husband Peter, who has been a Tory member for Devizes East.

Another husband and wife team on Kennet is Nick and Edwina Fogg, who stood as independents for Marlborough West and East respectively.

Not returning to Browfort is Marian Hannaford-Dobson, who lost out in Marlborough East to fellow town councillor Peggy Dow, the mayor elect of Marlborough, though her husband, Stewart Dobson, will represent Marlborough West for the Tories.

Coun Chris Humphries, the council leader who was seriously injured in a crash in Thailand, was returned by a narrow majority in Aldbourne.

His place as leader will be decided by a vote of the new Tory group at their first meeting.