WEST Somerset's first UK Independence Party councillor has pledged to strengthen the party's new- found base in the district ahead of the next General Election.

Cllr Terry Venner, who took the Minehead division from the Conservatives, said he was delighted with his victory, which saw sitting Tory Brenda Maitland-Walker knocked into third place.

Cllr Venner, who has served three terms as mayor of Minehead and is still a town councillor, was also a district councillor for six years - four as a Tory and two as an Independent.

But he said his affiliation to UKIP was sparked by a row over a Rochdale foster couple's membership of the party last year.

"I was incensed that being UKIP members affected their ability to foster - I thought it was just ridiculous," he said.

"I'm not hugely politically minded and my overriding concern will be to represent and help the Minehead community to the best of my ability.

"But I am determined to help build a strong base for the party in West Somerset in preparation for the next General Election in 2015.

"I want to see a UKIP candidate standing for the Bridgwater and West Somerset constituency."

Cllr Venner said he was genuinely surprised by his victory - particularly as at the start of the election campaign UKIP had just four paid up members in the Minehead division.

"I think I did benefit from quite a strong personal vote and a protest vote against the Tories.

"But I'm over the moon with the support I received.

"I never made any false promises, I was just myself."

Cllr Venner, who will be one of three UKIP councillors on the authority, said he and his party colleagues realised they would be limited in how they could influence the county council.

"But I think we are all people orientated and we will do our very best for our communities.

"I am really looking forward to the challenge."

Meanwhile, fellow 'new boy' Independent Hugh Davies, who snatched the Watchet and Stogursey seat from the Conservatives, admitted the split vote between the UKIP and Tory candidates had helped him.

But he said he was delighted that the electorate had given him the opportunity to serve at a higher level - he has represented Williton on West Somerset Council since 1999.

"I'd like to thank everyone who supported me and I can hardly put into words what this means to me."

It is the third time that Cllr Davies has stood for the county council but he said that in his heart he had felt this time he could beat Tory candidate Chris Morgan - a fellow West Somerset councillor.

"Although as an Independent I may be limited in how I can influence things at County Hall, I will certainly challenge, raise issues, find out things and represent the electorate as best I can.

"I've got a lot to learn but I feel very honoured."

Conservative Christine Lawrence celebrated winning her fourth term of office, having already notched up 12 years representing the Dunster division.

She said the battle lines had been changed, with the Boundary Commission review adding the parishes of Bicknoller, Crowcombe and Stogumber to her area.

"It was a different contest to the past - there was a wide variety of candidates," said Cllr Lawrence.

"It was a hard fight but a clean one - there were no dirty tricks from anyone.

"The end was a bit nail biting but I am delighted to have been given this opportunity to continue serving the electorate."

Cllr Lawrence said she believed the postal vote could have tipped the balance in her favour.

"Certainly the support for the UKIP candidate did have an effect but I am just very pleased to have won and I shall carry on doing my very best to represent everyone in the Dunster division."

Conservative Frances Nicholson scored the most resounding victory, polling just over 1,000 votes more than her closest rival, UKIP candidate Adrian Behan, to secure a second term of office representing the Dulverton and Exmoor division.

Her success was all the more impressive as family circumstances meant she could not be at the count at Williton's Danesfield Middle School last Thursday evening.

But her husband, former Taunton MP David Nicholson, took her place and ensured she was kept up to date with the results.

"I am delighted to have been re-elected for the now enlarged division of Dulverton and Exmoor by such a large majority and I will continue to do my level best for all electors in the division - whether or not they voted for me," said Cllr Nicholson.

"I was very sorry not to be at the count as family circumstances meant I had to be elsewhere, but you may be sure that I watched the results coming through with close attention.

"I look forward to the next four years of challenging - and hopefully successful - work as the representative of Exmoor and the Brendon Hills at County Hall."