Devon County Council

It will be four more years of Conservative rule in Devon after the Tories comfortably retained control of Devon County Council.

Under John Hart’s leadership, they have been in charge of the council since 2009, and Thursday’s local elections saw them stretch that until 2025.

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John Hart, leader of the council, who retained his Bickleigh & Wembury seat, said: "We shall continue to govern in Devon for the benefit of the county as a whole and for all our residents.

“They’ve shown great resilience over the past year in ensuring we’ve had some of the lowest Covid infection figures throughout the pandemic.

"But now, with the success of the vaccination programme and the Bank of England’s optimistic forecast for the national economy, we have got to focus on regenerating the Devon economy and driving the strongest possible recovery.

“We mean to get back to work immediately for the benefit of everyone in the county. We have ambitious plans for a cleaner, Greener Devon with a thriving economy. We can’t create jobs but we can provide the right climate for business to create jobs."

It’s a Conservative hold for Devon County Council.

With 56 of 60 seats declared, the Tories hold 36 – down two on four years ago.

The Liberal Democrats have gained two seats and currently sit on nine, up from seven last time, to become the official opposition.

Two East Devon wards, Exmouth and Broadclyst, are due to declare on Saturday.

Both are double member wards, so four seats are up for grabs. They are currently all Conservative.

The Tories lost seats to the Lib Dems in Barnstaple South and Teignmouth.

Labour remains on seven seats so far.

Independents have three and the Green Party one.

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The Conservatives remain ahead in the Devon County Council election, as of 15:25, with only a handful of seats yet to be declared, according to the council's website.

The Tories have had 35 seats declared in their favour.

The Liberal Democrats have the next highest number so far, with nine, seats; then Labour with seven.

There are three Independents.

Only three wards in the East Devon district are yet to be declared.

Previously the Tories held 42 of the 60 seats.

Devon County CouncilCopyright: Devon County Council

The Conservatives are ahead in the Devon County Council election, as of 13:25, according to the council's website.

The Tories have had 27 seats declared in their favour, compared to five for the Liberal Democrats, four for Labour and three Independents.

Previously the Tories held 42 of the 60 seats.

Devon County CouncilCopyright: Devon County Council

The Conservatives have held on to a Devon County Council seat in Exeter.

Duryard & Pennsylvania saw a 44.46% turnout, with Tory Percy Prowse winning 1,370 votes.

Labour's Ivor Snow had the next highest number of votes with 1,201.

Labour has held on to three wards on Devon County Council in Exeter.

In Alphington & Cowick, Yvonne Atkinson Lab polled 1,955, with Conservative candidate Katherine New getting the next highest number of votes at 1,700 in a turnout of 42.22%

In Exwick & St Thomas, Rob Hannaford won 1,828 votes, with the nearest contender, Conservative Jacqueline Cross winning 916.

Pinhoe & Mincinglake also saw a Labour hold, with Tracy Adams on 1,935 to Tory John Harvey's 1,333. Turnout was 38.72%.

Elections for Devon County and Exeter City councils have seen a turnout of nearly 40% in the Exeter area, officials have said.

Both councils saw 39% of voters taking part in the city-held polls, verification work has determined.

Turnout for the Police and Crime Commissioner poll in Devon was lower at 36.7%, figures revealed.

Mid Devon Council said verification of its ballot boxes was "well under way" less than two hours after polls closed on Thursday at 22:00.

It said the verification process was to check "the number of ballot papers in each box matches the number of ballot papers issued".

After that "then we can begin the count", staff said.