ALL hopes of preventing a complete Conservative sweep across Dorset were dashed when Michael Tomlinson retained his seat in Mid-Dorset and North Poole with a huge 15,000 majority.

Unlike some other Tory candidates across the county Mr Tomlinson was able to increase his 2015 majority by nearly 5,000 votes.

On the night he polled 28,585 of the votes, with Liberal Democrat Vikki Slade coming in second with 13,246 votes - only 100 more than two years ago.

Despite winning such a large majority Mr Tomlinson said it had been a "difficult night".

Following the results he said: “It’s clear that it’s been a difficult night but that makes it all the more pleasing to me that we fought a successful and positive campaign.

"Who knows what will happen now, only time will tell.

“But I pledge to continue to serve the constituents of Mid Dorset and North Poole to the very best of my ability."

During his acceptance speech Mr Tomlinson thanked his current agent Simon Gibson and paid tribute to his agent from 2015 Judy Jamieson, who died in April.

“Judy would have relished the challenge of a 2017 campaign. Quite what she would have made of the results, who knows," he said.

He also said how pleased he was to see such a high turnout for the constituency - 77.42 per cent, a two per cent increase on 2015.

Meanwhile Mrs Slade said that despite a second disappointment in two years she would be back again if there was another election.

Following the result she said: "In 2015 I was heartbroken but this time round I'm absolutely fine.

"I was pretty sure this was going to be the result. Unfortunately with just six weeks to campaign we knew it was going to be an almost impossible mountain to climb."

Nationally the Liberal Democrats had a mixed night at the polls - they made some gains but lost key seats including the one held by former party leader and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg.

"We have increased our number of seats in Westminster, although we didn't quite get the reaction we wanted locally," added Mrs Slade.

"But this loss hasn't put me off and if there is another general election then I will do it all over again. Who knows what the next couple of weeks or months will bring, but whatever happens I will continue fighting for the people of Mid-Dorset and North Poole."

Labour's vote also increased by almost 4,000 votes, with candidate Steve Brew gaining 6,423 votes. Mr Brew said he was pleased with the national picture and praised Jeremy Corbyn for running a "stellar campaign".