VOTERS in Bournemouth vented their displeasure over a range of issues.

The Conservatives, who were in control of Bournemouth Council before it was abolished at the end of March to become part of BCP, had been braced for a difficult day.

But they held onto a substantial number of seats with some experienced names, although Labour made gains.

The first result to be announced was Wallisdown and Winton West where Conservatives Nigel Hedges and Susan Phillips were elected.

Then in a doubling of the seats for the Greens in Winton East where sitting Councillor Simon Bull was joined by Chris Rigby. They both polled over 1,000 votes and romped home.

Cllr Bull: “People are fed up with the one party system in Bournemouth. It shows the record I have as councillor and I look forward to working with a mixed council.”

Cllr Rigby added: “People are fed up with things and we want to move forward on a sustainable footing.”

Conservatives in Moordown, Sarah Anderson and Bev Dunlop were triumphant.

Lewis Allison for Labour and Jane Kelly for the Tories took Boscombe West.

Mr Allison is the youngest councillor at 25.

Mr Allison dislodged former mayor Phil Stanley-Watts. Mr Allison: “We have won with a great team effort. We are delighted.”

Labour also took one seat in Boscombe East with George Farquahar. Conservative Andy Jones took the other. The drama went on in West Southbourne. Lisa Lewis took one seat for Labour and, after a recount, Bob Lawton took the other for the Tories.

Nicola Greene who was elected with John Beesley told the Echo: “There is a lot of hurt out there. People are understandably upset and it will be a different council going forward.”

In Talbot Woods and Branksome, Conservatives Phil Broadhead, Drew Mellor and Karen Rampton were elected as were colleagues Mark Anderson and Cheryl Johnson in Queens Park ward. Tories Hazel Allen and Mike Greene took Bournemouth Central and in Kinson, Norman Decent, Duane Farr and Laurence Fear were elected for the party.

In Littledown and Iford, Lawrence Williams and Bobbie Dove held the seat for the Conservatives. They also won East Southbourne and Tuckton with Eddie Coope and Malcolm Davies.

Independent Steve Bartlett romped home in Redhill and Northbourne with Conservative Jackie Edwards also elected.

In East Cliff and Springbourne, Conservatives Anne Filer, Dave Kelsey and Roberto Rocca were elected.

In Muscliff Independents Lisa Northover and Kieron Wilson won along with Tory Derek Borthwick.

Bournemouth MPs Tobias Ellwood and Conor Burns were both at the count and acknowledged that Brexit had cast a long shadow over the polls.

They said many Conservative voters in both Poole and Christchurch had sent a very clear message to the government.