The Conservatives retained their dominance in Hertsmere on a night where the Liberal Democrats returned to the council chamber.

Labour also made a couple of gains on a night that went right into the early hours – and lots had to be drawn after two candidates could not be separated.

There were 34 Tories before the count last night but by this morning, this number had dropped slightly to 29.

The headline news came in Bushey North ward where the Lib Dems won all three seats displacing Tory councillors Jane West, Kashif Merchant, and Laurence Davis.

Andrew Melville, Jerry Evans, and Paul Richard became the first Lib Dems to be elected in Hertsmere for 12 years.

Meanwhile, Labour gained two seats over in Potters Bar Furzefield as Christian Gray and Chris Myers displaced Tory councillors Martin Worster and Peter Knell.

The tightest result came in Borehamwood Kenilworth ward where in the end, just three votes separated second and fourth. Labour’s Rebecca Butler was a clear winner with 987 votes but Tory representative Cynthia Barker and Labour’s Kumail Jaffer and Dan Ozarow were left biting their nails with a recount needed.

In the end, Cllr Barker, who has moved from Potters Bar, came second with 822 votes while lots had to be drawn between Mr Ozarow and Mr Jaffer. Mr Jaffer won as Labour gained a seat from the Tories in the ward.

There were clean sweeps for the Conservatives in Aldenham East, Aldenham West, Borehamwood Hillside, Borehamwood Brookmeadow, Bushey Heath, Bushey St James, Bushey Park, Elstree, Shenley, Potters Bar Oakmere, Potters Bar Parkfield, and Bentley Heath & The Royds.

Harry Mortimer, Natalie Susman, David Carter, Glenn Briski, Lucy Selby, and Mike Reeve, will be new Tory faces in the council chamber.

Labour retained their three seats in Borehamwood Cowley Hill. There were just 20 votes between Labour winning a seat in Brookmeadow ward.

Thousands of votes were spoiled in the borough elections during an overall turnout of 32.8 per cent.

The spoiled votes by ward are as follows:

Aldenham East – 211 – Aldenham West – 224 – Bentley Heath & The Royds – 253 – Borehamwood Brookmeadow – 518 – Borehamwood Cowley Hill – 757 – Borehamwood Hillside – 693 – Borehamwood Kenilworth - TBC- Bushey Heath – 137 – Bushey North – 398 – Bushey Park – 508 – Bushey St James – 357 – Elstree – 273 – Potters Bar Furzefield – 290 – Potters Bar Oakmere – 173 – Potters Bar Parkfield – 175 – Shenley – 337

The new make-up of Hertsmere Borough Council is: CON – 29 (down 5) LAB 7 (up 3) Lib Dem 3(up 3).

The Tories gained a seat in Brookmeadow from an Independent – Gary Silver who defected from the Tories in April.

Town council and parish council results have been revealed too.

The Conservatives won all parish council seats in Aldenham West and Shenley.

The Tories have won seven seats on Elstree & Borehamwood town council while Labour hold six.

VisitΒ www.hertsmere.gov.uk/2019localelectionresults for a full summary of results.