The north Herts local election results are in.

The headline news has been the Liberal Democrats Paul Clark gaining Hitchin South from the Conservatives.

Mr Clark has been elected as councillor for Hitchin South, taking the seat from previous long-serving incumbent Derrick Ashley by the slenderest of margins.

Mr Clark received 1,930 votes to Mr Ashley's 1,888 votes, to land the seat by 42 votes.

Prominent Hitchin Liberal Democrat councillor Sam Collins tweeted with delight: "Hitchin South Lib Dem gain!

"Paul is going to be a fantastic representative for the local area."

Other results

Labour's Judi Billing provided a welcome tonic for beleaguered Labour supporters dismayed at their party's poor display nationally, by routing the opposition in Hitchin North.

The respected Ms Billing received 2,701 votes - more than double her nearest rival, to hold the seat.

Elsewhere, Tina Bhartwas won Letchworth North for Labour by 46 votes.

Tweeting on Sunday morning: Ms Billing said: "I am of course massively grateful to comrades at North Herts Labour for their fantastic help in ensuring the election of Tina and myself."

Full local election results for north Herts:

Hitchin South

Paul Clark, Liberal Democrats, 1930 (ELECTED)

Derrick Ashley, Conservative Party, 1888

Elizabeth Dennis-Harburg, Labour and Co-operative Party, 765

Sam Larsen, Green Party, 455

Leigh Smith, Christian Peoples Alliance, 54

Barbara Clare, Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts, 22.

Hitchin North

Judi Billing, Labour, 2701 (ELECTED)

John Bishop, Conservative Party, 1366

Mary Marshall, Green Party, 530

Andrew Ircha, Liberal Democrats, 484

Sid Cordle, Christian Peoples Alliance, 71

Hitchin Rural

David Barnard, Conservative Party, 2127 (ELECTED)

Anni Sander, Green Party, 980

Anton Jungreuthmayer, Labour Party, 818

Marilyn Parkin, Liberal Democrats, 413

Daisy Appoh, Christian Peoples Alliance, 53

Letchworth North

Tina Bhartwas, Labour and Co-operative Party, 2044 (ELECTED)

Simon Bloxham, Conservative Party, 1998

Jerry Evans, Liberal Democrats, 426

Letchworth South

Terry Hone, Conservative Party, 2254 (ELECTED)

Amy Allen, Labour, 1163

Phil Weeder, Liberal Democrats, 830

Alan Borgars, Green Party, 384

Garry Warren, Reform UK, 91

Baldock and Letchworth East

Michael Muir, Conservative Party, 1963 (ELECTED)

Leo Chapman, Labour Party, 1251

Richard Winter, Liberal Democrat, 624

Tim Lee, Green Party, 516

Knebworth and Codicote

Richard Thake, Conservative Party, 2504 (ELECTED)

Terry Tyler, Liberal Democrats, 886

Doug Jenner, Labour Party, 647

Katrina Nice, Green Party, 473

Royston East and Ermine

Fiona Hill, Conservative Party, 2317 (ELECTED)

Ruth Brown, Liberal Democrats, 1255

Stephen Lockett, Labour Party, 669

Steven Turner, Green Party, 311

Royston West and Rural

Steve Jarvis, Liberal Democrats, 2591 (ELECTED)

George Davies, Conservative Party, 1900

Ken Garland, Labour and Co-operative Party, 519