A surge in support for the Liberal Democrats and a collapse in the Conservative vote has shaken up the balance of power at BCP Council.
While results from the local elections left the Liberal Democrats 11 seats short of an overall majority, the party is the largest group by a significant margin.
In a frantic afternoon of result declarations at the BIC, there were shocks, surprises and extremely close counts as some wards went down to the wire.
The final outcome saw the Liberal Democrats secure 28 seats, up from 13. The Conservatives fell from 34 seats to just 12, with Labour just behind them with 11 councillors – an increase from three seats in 2019.
Christchurch Independents increased their seat share from seven to eight, the Green Party picked up five seats, having previously only had two councillors. Poole People rose from four to five, while Poole Engage secured two councillors in its first time at the polls.
The remaining five seats were won by independent candidates.
Liberal Democrat leader Vikki Slade told the Daily Echo: "An incredible set of results. I am just blown away.
"Some of our guys and girls who got in, and I am gutted because there are another six which we got so close to.
"People and places that we would never have thought we could actually hold and we have done. I think it's a brilliant new era for BCP Council.
"Four years ago, everybody was shocked when the alliance came in.
"Everybody just assumed that you had to vote Conservative, it would always be that way and I think it gave people hope that it could be different. I am really chuffed."
She said her party was the only one to win seats in Bournemouth (10), Christchurch (two) and Poole (16) giving them "real credibility".
"It is not a majority," Cllr Slade added. "We are going to have to find a way to get to a majority and it is going to be easier to do that with some people than others.
"There is a little bit of water under the bridge from campaigning where some people are upset with other people and we have to figure that out.
"The work starts straight away on how we form a good, strong, lasting administration."
Full list of Liberal Democrat wins in the 2023 BCP Council elections
Adrian Chapmanlaw - Alderney and Bourne Valley
Rachel Maidment - Alderney and Bourne Valley
Tony Trent - Alderney and Bourne Valley
Marcus Andrews - Bearwood and Merley
David Brown - Bearwood and Merley
Richard Burton - Bearwood and Merley
Peter Sidaway - Broadstone
Vikki Slade - Broadstone
Chris Matthews - Canford Heath
Sandra Moore - Canford Heath
Clare Weight - Canford Heath
Mike Cox - Christchurch Town
Michael Tarling - Christchurch Town
Paul Slade - Creekmoor
Bernadette Nanovo - East Southbourne and Tuckton
Judy Richardson - East Southbourne and Tuckton
Millie Earl - Newtown and Heatherlands
Marion Le Poidevin - Newtown and Heatherlands
Sandra Mackrow - Newtown and Heatherlands
Crispin Goodall - Parkstone
Emily Harman - Parkstone
Jo Clements - Penn Hill
Oliver Walters - Penn Hill
Matthew Gillett - Talbot and Branksome Woods
Olivia Brown - Wallisdown and Winton West
Richard Herrett - Wallisdown and Winton West
Brian Chick - West Southbourne
Jeff Hanna - West Southbourne
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here