THERE was a shock at the polls in Trowbridge on Friday after notable figures on the town's council were ousted from their seats.

Although the Conservatives secured a majority across all six wards at the count at the Civic Centre last week, several notable figures, such as the current mayor and long-term Conservative councillor John Knight, were ousted from their seats after an average turnout of just 31.4 per cent

Mr Knight, who has been a councillor since 2003, had a particularly bad day at the office. After a dramatic mix-up, he lost his unitary seat to Liberal Democrat Stewart Palmen, and then his seat on the town council, in the Trowbridge Central ward, by just 32 votes to Labour's Pheobe Kemp.

"It was not really a surprise and as far as I am concerned, I have moved on," said Mr Knight, who has been a councillor since 2003.

"The best news is that at last the town council has been rescued from the control of the Liberal Democrats. Hopefully we will see some changes for the better – good luck to all the new candidates."

Outgoing mayor Linda Self, of the Liberal Democrats, also lost her seat in Trowbridge's Adcroft ward to Conservative Benjamin Cooper. The ward's remaining two seats were won by her Lib Dem colleague Nick Blakemore and Conservative Edward Kirk.

"Personally I wasn't too worried about losing my seat," Mrs Self said. "I want to spend some more time with my family, especially as my grandchildren, Marley and Isabelle, are one and a half and three.

"I have had a fantastic experience this term and I think I have raised the most money as a mayor. It will be interesting to watch what happens next."

l Full election results: Pages 14-15