Shrewsbury mayor Roger Evans has lost his seat on the borough council after 12 years.

The shock result saw the Liberal Democrat lose out by more than 100 votes to independent challenger and county councillor Yvonne Holyoak.

The Conservatives maintained their grip on the council, winning 39 per cent of the vote.

Mr Evans said he was disappointed at the result but respected the decision of Hanwood voters.

“When I fought previous elections it was possible to go out during the evenings and speak to people. As mayor I could have cancelled all my appointments and functions, but would have disappointed a number of community groups.

“You have to be apolitical as mayor, so for the last 18 months I have had to work behind the scenes. It is always difficult when you are mayor and defending a seat,” he said.

Thirteen out of the authority’s 40 seats were up for election and the count was held inside the Music Hall.

Ballot boxes, which were brought to the venue from across the borough, were opened for counting at 10pm. The first results were declared about an hour afterwards.

With newcomer Maxwell Winchester winning the Bagley ward from independent candidate John Thurston, the Tories now control 22 of the 40 seats in Shrewsbury and Atcham.

Tory Andrew Wagner got one of the biggest cheers of the night after holding off a strong Labour challenge from John Turnbull.

Councillor Wagner beat his rival by 64 votes in the Castlefields & Quarry seat which was also contested by the Lib Dems, the Greens and the BNP.

Fellow Conservative Karen Burgoyne came within a whisker of ousting Shrewsbury’s Labour leader Danny Moore from his Sundorne seat.

In the night’s closest contest, the veteran Labour councillor kept his place on the authority by just three votes.

All other sitting councillors retained their posts on the borough. Mr Moore, the former leader of the council, said he was pleased that the three Labour councillors had kept their seats.

“It was a very close result (in my seat) and I was conscious of the fact that the national political scene would have had an effect in Shrewsbury and Atcham,” he said.

“But we defended three seats and we have retained them.”

Last night’s results mean that of the 40 seats on Shrewsbury & Atcham Borough Council, the Conservatives hold 22, Labour 10, Liberal Democrats five and independents three.

Shrewsbury & Atcham MP Daniel Kawczynski said it was a triumphant night for the Conservatives in Shrewsbury.

And he paid special tribute to Maxwell Winchester for gaining the Bagley ward and Karen Burgoyne for coming so close to capturing Sundorne.

“For the Conservatives to win Bagley is a fantastic result for us. I intend to work closely with Maxwell Winchester there,” he said.

“Karen Burgoyne got involved with the Conservative party about a year ago and almost won the safest Labour ward. It was a great result.”

Turnout across the borough was 42.6 per cent.

Shrewsbury was one of a handful of councils in England piloting new e-voting schemes.

More than 1,700 residents grasped the opportunity to cast their ballots online or over the phone.

Results in your area:

• Shrewsbury & Atcham
• Telford & Wrekin
• Oswestry