THE Conservatives have strengthened their hold on West Somerset Council after gaining four seats in last week's local authority elections, despite losing three traditional Tory strongholds following a boundary review.
The ward changes cut the number of seats from 31 to 28 and Conservatives had feared the alterations could cost them dear.
But in the end, it was the Independents who struggled at the polls, losing seven seats, while Labour gained one and the Liberal Democrats lost one.
And despite fielding a record number of candidates the Green Party failed to win a single seat.
Former Conservative and council leader Cllr Tim Taylor held his place on the council, standing in his home ward of Carhampton and Withycombe.
Former Independent group leader Cllr Keith Ross also held on to his seat in Dulverton and District.
In all, 15 members of the previous council stood again for election - only Steven Pugsley was returned uncontested in the new Greater Exmoor ward.
Of the 15, a dozen were returned but Independents Sandra Slade and Paul Tipney lost their seats in Minehead South and Quantock Vale respectively.
Former district councillors Nick Messarra and Stan Taylor were both unsuccessful in their bids to return to power.
Mr Messarra, who lives in Taunton, lost out to fellow Conservative Karen Mills and Independent Jon Freeman in Porlock and District, while former Conservative Mr Taylor, missed out after standing on an Independent ticket in Minehead Central.
The balance of power at the authority now stands at 19 Conservatives, seven Independents and two Labour.
Previously, there were 15 Conservative councillors, 14 Independents, one Labour and one Liberal Democrat.
(E) denotes elected
Alcombe (two seats)
Paul Nicholas Grierson (Conservative) 357 (E)
Andy Lewis (Labour) 280
Ian Rory Melhuish (Independent) 409 (E)
Venetia Moore (Green) 200
Brendon Hills (one seat)
Nick Moore (Independent) 158
Keith Harden Turner (Conservative) 456 (E)
Carhampton and Withycombe (one seat)
Bill Butcher (Independent) 194
Tim Taylor (Conservative). 382 (E)
Crowcombe and Stogumber (one seat)
Roy Harbour (Independent) 178
Jamie Robertson (Green) 130
Anthony Henry Trollope-Bellew (Conservative) 373 (E)
Dulverton and District (two seats)
Bruce Heywood (Conservative) 543 (E)
David Lungley (Independent) 450
Keith John Ross (Independent) 736 (E)
Kathy Smith (Conservative). 434
Dunster and Timberscombe (one seat)
Alec Martin Chick (Conservative) 336 (E)
Nicky Gibbard (Green) 166
Gary Anthony Miele (Independent) 78
Greater Exmoor (one seat)
Steven John Pugsley (Conservative) - elected unopposed
Minehead Central (three seats)
Mandy Jayne Chilcott (Conservative) 543 (E)
John Denis Clyde-Smith (Independent) 146
Cait Collins (Green) 137
Lesley Culverhouse (Labour) 298
Simon Charles Gibbard (Green) 127
Stephen Grice (Independent) 302
Andrew Peter Hadley (Independent) 588 (E)
Richard Lillis (Conservative) 349 (E)
Ernest Stanley Taylor (Independent) 247
Minehead North (two seats)
Katy Attwater (Green) 218
Steve Pickard (Other) 220
Doug Ross (Independent) 471 (E)
David Jack Sanders (Conservative) 448 (E)
Minehead South (two seats)
Sandra Jean Slade (Other) 335
Les Smith (Conservative) 520 (E)
Maureen Ann Smith (Labour) 520 (E)
David Taylor (Green) 259
Tristan Dan Tonks (Conservative) 365
Old Cleeve (two seats)
Martin Dewdney (Conservative) 423 (E)
Ian Galloway (Liberal Democrat) 219
Jude Johnson-Smith (Green) 304
Kate Victoria Kravis (Conservative) 523 (E)
David Leslie Latimer (Green) 365
Porlock and District (two seats)
Jon Freeman (Independent) 591 (E)
Nick Messarra (Conservative) 414
Karen Maria Mills (Conservative) 683 (E)
Quantock Vale (two seats)
Sue Goss (Conservative) 442 (E)
Chris Morgan (Conservative) 521 (E)
Paul Anthony Tipney (Independent) 434
Watchet (three seats)
Anthony Charles Bowden (Lib Dem) 260
Tony Knight (Conservative) 637 (E)
Peter Howard Murphy (Labour) 450 (E)
John Richards (Independent) 238
Bruce Scott (Green) 259
Izzy Silvester (Green) 297
Ann Snelling (Conservative) 327
David James Westcott (Conservative) 669 (E)
Loretta Anne Whetlor (Independent). 269
West Quantock (one seat)
Geoffrey Stuart Dowding (Conservative) 417 (E)
Miriam Robertson (Green) 174
Williton (two seats)
Hugh John William Davies (Independent) 700 (E)
Edwin May (Other) 425 (E)
Rosemary Woods (Conservative) 324
There were also a number of parish elections in West Somerset in Bicknoller, Crowcombe, Dulverton, Dunster and Watchet.
Parish councillors elected were: Bicknoller - Michael Anderson, John Grellier, Carolyn Lighton, Nicola Russell, Chris Skinner, Desmond Venner and Chris Warren.
Crowcombe - Tony Brooks, Jane Chipp, Bob Druitt, Roy Harbour, John Hughes, Dennis Lock and Tony Motture.
Dulverton - Rod Coyne, Christine Dubery, Ian Fleming, Bernard How, Christopher Nelder, Margaret Rawle, Keith Ross, Leslie Silverlock, Tony Snell and Nick Thwaites.
Dunster - Biddy Bale, Ashleigh Bishop, Carol Ell, Graham Lamacraft, Christine Oliver, Kevin Sully, Paul Toogood, Alan Vicary, Angela Webber, Philip Webber and Geoff Witherford.
Watchet - Hazel Bowden, Anne Cleveland, Sally De Renzy-Martin, Ruth Gavenlock, Linda Hart, John Irven, Peter Murphy, John Richards, Janet Tapp, David Westcott, Loretta Whetlor, Michael Whetlor