UKIP won its first seats on Hampshire County Council at last Thursday's elections, including three in disgraced former MP Chris Huhne's town of Eastleigh.

The party won 10 seats but the Conservatives retained overall control with 45 out of 78 councillors.

The Liberal Democrats have 17 seats, Labour four, Independent one, and Community Campaign (Hart) one.

In East Hampshire, local candidates retained their seats, with UKIP using national issues to secure a significant number of votes to take second place, reflecting an overall trend.

In Alton Town, with a 30 per cent turnout, Hampshire County Council chairman Andrew Joy (Conservative) was returned with 1,715. Andrew Walters (UKIP) came in second with 955 votes, and Diane McKay (Lib Dem) third on 799 with Barbara Burfoot (Labour) polling just 509.

In Alton Rural, a 36 per cent turnout saw Mark Kemp-Gee (Con) returned with 2762 votes, ahead of UKIP's Rigby Andrews on 1,188, Maureen Comber (Lib Dem) on 550 and Jan Treacher (Lab) on 429.

For full story and a local elections results round-up, see this week's Alton Herald.