Adrian Collett defeats Conservatives by 1,400 votes to retain County Council seat.

4.30.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Sat 6th Jun 2009

Adrian Collett will be challenging the Tories at the next election

Adrian Collett, the Liberal Democrats' Prospective Parliamentary candidate, retained his County Council seat for Ancells Farm, Blackwater, Darby Green, Frogmore, Hawley and Yateley East with over 62% of the vote. Such a big public endorsement gives him a strong platform to challenge Tory MP Gerald Howarth whenever the General Election comes.

Liberal Democrat David Simpson will also stay as County Councillor for Yateley West, Hartley Wintney and Eversley, seeing off the Tories' challenger by 73 votes.

In Rushmoor, Charlie Fraser-Fleming came closest to gaining a County Council seat in the borough, missing out by just 156 votes in North Farnborough.

Labour's prospective MP had a terrible result coming 5th behind the BNP and an Independent candidate in North Farnborough.

Adrian Collett said "These results show that Labour are finished in this area and the public will soon have a choice between Tory MP Gerald Howarth who thinks he could be earning more as a city banker or electing a local Liberal Democrat who would be proud to serve as this area's MP and would not claim for a second home."