The Liberal Democrats surrendered their lead on Stratford District Council to the Tories, but are confident they can still run the administration.

Before last night’s local elections the Lib-Dems held 23 seats to 18 held by the Conservatives. The Tories made six gains to become the major party on the district council, but the balance of power lies with the Independent councillors.

The Lib-Dems lost three seats, one to an Independent, while Labour and the Independents lost two seats each.

The seats on the council are now apportioned Conservative 24, Lib-Dems 20, Independents 7, Labour 3.

But with no overall control the Tories must try to do a deal with the independents to run an administration.

Mrs Susan Juned, leader of the Liberal Democrats, believes that is out of the question.

"We have run the administration of Stratford District Council for the last five years since the Conservatives lost overall control. We did it with the co-operation of the Independent councillors and I anticipate we can carry on doing so.

"We have done many good things for the area and we have more that we want to do. We shall be having discussions with the Independents in the near future."

The Conservatives are also expected to make overtures to the Independents

But Mrs Juned thinks they are likely to get a frosty reception.

"The Conservatives will not get very far because they alienated people by their aggressive, some might say vicious, campaign against the Independents in the elections," she says.

As for the Lib-Dems’ performance in the elections Mrs Juned says she is very upbeat.

"We lost three seats but Harbury was always a marginal and we had new candidates in place of retiring councillors."