A NIGHT of highs and lows saw the Conservative group lose outright control of Monmouthshire County Council and some high profile casualties.

Among these was former council leader Andrew Crump, who lost his Raglan seat to a Tory candidate, after standing as an independent.

Andrew James, of Crucorney also lost his seat to another independent, David Hughes Jones.

Council leader Peter Fox retained his Portskewett seat as did Councillor Bob Greenland,whose Devauden ward recorded one of the highest turnouts for the day.

At the end of a long night at Chepstow Leisure Centre the Conservative party remained the largest group in the authority, with 19 councillors, but its reduced majority left it short of the 22 members needed for outright control.

The independent group was the biggest winner of the night, gaining nine extra seats to bring its total to ten - Councillor Simon Howarth of Llanelly Hill retained his seat as did Tory member Councillor Giles Howard, who 'bucked the trend' of the night to increase his majority.

The Labour party gained four seats, bringing its total to 11.

The Lib Dems suffered during the evening losing two seats to give it a total of three councillors - including Abergavenny's Douglas Edwards.

Plaid Cymru lost its only Monmouthshire Councillor leaving it unrepresented on the authority.

At Abergavenny Town Council the Tory group holds sway taking nine of the 15 available seats - with the council now boasting two married couples among its members.

The May 3 elections saw former mayor Councillor Chris Woodhouse returning to the council chamber, where he will be joined by his wife Sheila, one of three councillors elected in the Grofield ward.

In the Lansdown ward current deputy mayor Councillor Roger Harris will be joined by his wife Magaret for her first term as a town councillor.

With no election in the Cantref Ward, councillors Samantha Dodd, Paul Jordan and Paul Wadsworth were returned uncontested

FULL TOWN COUNCIL RESULTS

Lansdown Ward

Margaret Harris (Lab)

Roger Harris (Lab)

Chris Woodhouse (Con)

Grofield

Douglas Edwards (Lib Dem)

Melissa Toombs (Lib Dem)

Sheila Woodhouse (Con),

Priory

John Robin Harris (Lib Dem)

JOhn Prosser (Con)

Nicholas Tatum (Lib Dem)

Castle

Mark Chiplin (Con)

Martin Hickman (Con)

Maureen Powell (Con)

Cantref (Returned uncontested)

Samatha Dodd (Con)

Paul Jordan (Con)

Paul Wadsworth (Con)

For full election coverage and reaction from all the political parties see next week's edition of The Chronicle.