IN last week's elections for Stratford District Council, there was no change for Alcester and surrounding areas.

Conservative Councillor Susan Adams retained her seat for Alcester with 55 per cent of the vote.

In Aston Cantlow, Sir William Lawrence won 73 per cent of the vote for the Conservatives in a landslide victory, while in Bidford and Salford, Independent candidate Kim James retained his seat with 52 per cent of the vote.

Sue Adams was delighted win her victory.

She said: "I'm very pleased and honoured that people voted me back in, and shall work very hard for the people of Alcester.

"I doubled my majority, but I did have a great team behind me."

Overall, the elections gave Conservatives 32 seats on the new council, while the Liberal Democrats have 19 seats and Independents held their two seats.

Five Conservative councillors lost their seats to the Liberal Democrats, in one of the worst performances across the country for the party.

Councillor Hazel Wright, leader of the Liberal Democrats on the council, said: "This was a terrible performance by the Conservatives in Stratford, there was nowhere worse for them in the whole country.

"The reasons are simple - people outside Stratford have seen millions ploughed into the World Class Stratford project and they feel their own towns and villages are being left behind.

"So often we've heard people say if you don't live in Stratford they're not bothered about you'."

Susan Adams added: "We've still got a big majority on the council, so I don't think it will make that much of a difference, although we've lost some very good and loyal servants to the council."

Commenting on the Liberal Democrat gains on Stratford-On-Avon Council, Liberal Democrat Leader, Nick Clegg said: "This is an excellent result for Stratford-On-Avon Liberal Democrats.

"The Liberal Democrat group will now have a much stronger voice on the Council, pushing for policies to make Stratford-On-Avon safer and greener, while also seeking greater value for money.

"These gains reflect Liberal Democrat councillors in Stratford-On-Avon working hard for their constituents all year round."

The new councillors were sworn in on Tuesday, in a ceremony at Elizabeth House in Stratford.