THE Conservatives held on to all four county council wards in the West Devon area at last week's elections. But Tory campaigners will be looking nervously over their shoulder at UKIP — the anti-EU party firmly stamped its presence on the local political stage by taking the runners-up spot in each ward.

It was a showing acknowledged by Conservative Philip Sanders, who held the Yelverton Rural ward. He paid tribute to UKIP opponent Andrew Mudge for having fought a 'clean and honest campaign' and said the UKIP support came because of 'a clear disconnect' between electorate and national government.

He said: 'The national picture had a big impact, which showed itself not just in the results but from what I have picked up from voters on the doorstep.

'There is a significant number of loyal Conservative voters who wanted to send a message to the Conservative Party and the Prime Minister and some did that by switching to UKIP.'

Cllr Sanders said the new county council's priorities would be services to the vulnerable, elderly and children while continuing a 'drive for efficiency to reduce costs'. There were also challenges to be faced regarding the county's road network.

Tavistock's Debo Sellis was the only one of the four successful Conservative candidates to increase her majority, although she acknowledged that much of that was due to the fact that popular Independent Ted Sherrell, whom she narrowly defeated four years ago, did not stand this time.

Cllr Sellis said she had been determined to take her role seriously by showing commitment and 'being a good listener'.

'I have had people who voted for me and for what I do for the community and I am humbled and honoured that I will be able to continue doing that for another four years.'

Cllr Sellis said the full impact of public spending cuts had yet to be seen. 'There will be difficult situations and we need to work together to keep Tavistock's head held up high — that means working with churches, voluntary groups and businesses towards a common goal.'

But she said she was disappointed that many young people had not exercised their right to vote: 'They are the future and if they want a voice they need to be informed and to take part in the political process.'

Leading West Devon UKIP member George Mudge said the county elections had changed the British political scene forever: 'UKIP will not be perceived as a protest vote and in next year's European elections the party will top the poll and get most MEPs.'

Mr Mudge said the UKIP votes in West Devon came from across the spectrum, but he believed a lot of them had come from the Liberal Democrats as well as from the Conservatives.

There were no good results for the Liberal Democrats, the party that since 1997 has twice controlled Devon County Council.

Leading Liberal Democrat Alison Clish-Green was pipped to second place in the Tavistock ward by UKIP's George Mudge, and in Okehampton Rural the Liberal Democrats were beaten into third place by Labour. The seat, formerly held by Tory Christine Marsh, who did not seek re-election, was won by Conservative Kevin Ball, an Okehampton town councillor.

There were Labour celebrations in Gunnislake and Calstock where party candidate Dorothy Kirk, a former Tavistock College teacher, wrested the seat from Tory Russell Bartlett.

l The Conservatives retained overall control of Devon County Council. They now hold 38 of the 62 seats available, a net fall of three seats on 2009.

The Liberal Democrats hold nine seats — a net fall of four —seats, after gaining two seats but losing six others.

Labour gained two seats in Exeter to take their numbers at County Hall to seven.

UKIP gained four seats on the council for the first time, the Green Party, took one seat in Totnes while Independent candidates took three seats.

l Cornwall Council remains in no overall control. The Liberal Democrats lost two and are now on 36. Independents have 37 seats, the Conservatives lost 19 seats and now have 31. UKIP won six seats and Labour went from one seat to eight, Mebyon Kernow has four seats while the Green Party won one seat.