POOLE has a hung council after the Liberal Democrats snatched one seat from the Tories.

The Conservatives’ drop to 21 of 42 seats leaves them with a narrow three seat lead and no overall control of the council.

It wasn’t until 5am, after several recounts, that the Lib Dems finally heard they had defended their three Broadstone seats, bringing their total to 18 and eating into the Tory majority.

Over a close night, the Poole People’s Party, which only formed last year, took three seats.

Elaine Atkinson, leader of the Conservatives, told the Daily Echo she was "deeply disappointed" at losing a seat, but important lessons had been learnt.

"We have to listen to what has been said in the Poole People's Party taking three seats," she said.

"But we also have to help people to hold them to account for the promises that they have made.

"Because the reality is that you have to provide services with the funding that is available.

"It's not about offering stars and fireworks."

Mayor Chris Bulteel losing his Poole Town seat of 16 years to Chris Wilson for the Poole People's Party was a particular blow, she said.

Lib Dem leader Mike Brooke said: "Our success bucks the trend for the party, and of course produces a hung council.

"So there are very interesting times ahead. I'm delighted with the Broadstone results. It was a very closely fought fight."

Poole People's Party Mark Howell held onto the Poole Town seat he won in a by-election last December, following the death of council leader Brian Leverett.

The party's campaign had the motto Time for Change.

Mr Howell said: "We have come a remarkably long way in a short time.

"This is something very much to build on. The results we have got in wards which we lost have all been encouraging."

Oakdale, with 15 candidates standing for three seats, had been tipped as the ward to watch.

But although Poole People's Party candidate Andy Hadley racked up nearly 1,000 votes, it wasn't enough to compete with the Tories.

Turnout across the borough was 42.1%.

RESULTS

There are 42 seats split across 16 wards with two or three councillors.

Alderney

Tony Trent, LD, 1,093 votes

Lindsay Wilson, LD, 1,001 votes

Charles Meachin, LD, 970 votes

Branksome East

Stephen Rollo-Smith, C, 1,008 votes

Karen Rampton, C, 1,001 votes

Branksome West

Phil Eades, LD, 1,531 votes

Marion Le Poidevin, LD, 1,160 votes

Broadstone

Mike Brooke, LD, 2,559 votes

Roy Godfrey, LD, 2,027 votes

Vikki Slade, LD, 2,016 votes

Canford Cliffs

May Haines, C, 1,854 votes

Peter Pawlowski, C, 1626 votes

Neil Sorton, C, 1,658 votes

Canford Heath East

Sandra Moore, LD, 1,150 votes

Jennie Hodges, LD, 1,075 votes

Canford Heath West

Chris Matthews, LD, 1,172 votes

Phil Goodall, LD, 1,164 votes

Creekmoor

Judes Butt, C, 1,487 votes

Les Burden, C, 1,515 votes

John Rampton, C, 1,284 votes

Hamworthy East

Charmaine Parkinson, PPP, 728 votes

Mike White, C, 688 Hamworthy West

Graham Chandler, C, 778 votes

Michael Wilkins, C, 755 votes

Merley and Bearwood

David Brown, LD, 2,054 votes

Sandra Cox, LD, 2,026 votes

Peter Maiden, LD, 1,976 votes

Newtown Brian Clements, LD, 1,137 votes

Jo Clements, LD, 1,131 votes

Graham Wilson, LD, 1,001 votes

Oakdale

Ian Potter, C, 1,264 votes

Peter Adams, C, 1,262 votes

Janet Walton, C, 1,129 votes

Parkstone

Sally Carpenter, C, 2,008

Ann Stribley, C, 1,764

Tony Woodcock, C, 1,613

Penn Hill

Elaine Atkinson, C, 1,929

Xena Dion, C, 1,929

Ron Parker, C, 1,771

Poole Town

Mark Howell, PPP, 1,911

Chris Wilson, PPP, 1,631

Carol Evans, C, 1015