WOKINGHAM Borough Council remains in the hands of the Conservative Party after last night's local election count.

They gained one seat as the Labour party held it's single seat in Bulmershe and Whitegates and the Liberal Democrats stayed constant with three seats.

Andy Croy, Labour's sole borough councillor, said: "I had no idea walking into the room.

"I've benefitted from the hard work of a team.

"It was a close election, I was surprised it was over 100.

"As the Labour party in Wokingham there's no such thing as an easy seat.

"We had a popular councillor retire and when that happens there's always a chance."

A total of 19 seats were up for election across 18 wards with the Conservatives winning the lion's share with 15.

A hotly contested seat in Emmbrook saw the Conservative's hold the seat with a majority of just 13.

Polling stations across the borough closed at 10pm and the first ballot boxes arrived an hour later.

Last year the Tories swept to victory winning all 18 of the available seats.

Wokingham Borough Council holds local elections for a third of the 54 seats every year with no elections held in the fourth year.

The last time these seats were contested the Conservatives won 14, the Liberal Democrats won three and one independent won their seat.

One extra seat, held by a Labour councillor was also up for election after Nicky Jerome stepped down from her role earlier this year.

Keith Baker, leader of the Borough Council, said: "I'm pleased. We have ended up with one extra seat.

"I'm sad at the loss of Guy, he's a fantastic young councillor and we need more and more young people in the council."

Prue Bray, leader of the Liberal Democrats said: "We're the same size we were before.

"We lost one seat as we expected in Loddon. That has been expected for the past few years.

"We came close in Emmbrook and we gained one in Earley.

"We think we've turned the corner now, we've had a pretty horrible five years."

The Conservatives won one seat in Bulmershe and Whitegates, Charvil, Emmbrook, Evendons, Finchampstead North, Finchampstead South, Hillside, Hurst, Loddon, Maiden Erlegh, Norreys, Remenham, Wargrave and Ruscombe, Shinfield South, Wescott, and Wokingham Without.

The Liberal Democrats won seats in Winners, Twyford and Hawkedon.

The Labour party won a seat in Bulmershe and Whitegates.