Didn't we do well!

The ruling Conservative Independent Alliance (CIA) group now holds 29 seats out of 39, Labour has eight and two independents.

The biggest upset of the night was long-standing Labour councillor Brian Whipp losing his seat in Hillside ward to the Tories. Conservative Kenneth Eade polled 602, beating Mr Whipp by 183 votes. Mr Eade said: "It was my first time standing against a well-established sitting district and county councillor with a wealth of experience. I put in a lot of legwork and knocked on every door in the ward. It paid off."

Mr Whipp said: "We had a low Labour turnout and we can only reflect on what the reasons for this were. The national picture is similar and there is a lesson to be learned here somewhere."

Mr Eade's wife, Carol, who took Eastbrook ward for the Conservatives after Labour councillor Mike Willson retired, said: "It has been a lot of hard work, with both myself and my husband standing, but the results are fantastic!"

Former Liberal Democrat councillor Joy Hartley, who stood as an independent to fight her Churchill ward seat in Lancing, also lost to the Conservative candidate, Carol Bradburn, who was elected last year in Mash Barn ward and switched wards for this election.

Jubilant Adur CIA leader Neil Parkin said: "Didn't we do well? I will have to use a megaphone at our group meetings now because there are so many of us. I just want to say well done to our members, workers and new councillors for such a successful campaign."

Labour group leader Geoff Howitt said: "If I remain as leader of the opposition group, I will continue to support those policies which I think are worthwhile. I would like to express my sadness at the loss of some fine councillors, namely Brian Whipp, Joy Hartley and Mike Willson and Julia King, who retired early."

The overall turnout for the election, which was fought in 13 out of 14 wards, was 31.6 per cent, down on last year's turnout, which was 33 per cent.