THE Tories secured a clean sweep of all nine seats across Stafford borough.

They took four seats from Labour to add to the five already in the bag.

Councillor Ian Parry, who easily held onto Stone Rural, said: "I have been serving for 30 years and this has been the most bizarre election.

"It has been taken over by national affairs.

"It is a clean sweep for us and I'm not sure that's healthy for democracy. Having been in opposition when I was in a minority of two, I can say its not a happy place to be."

Losing Labour Stone Rural candidate Michael Shaw, of Willows Drive, Meir Heath, said: "Local issues have not come into it.

"MPs' expenses have affected all of us, but because Labour are in power, it has affected us the worst. I didn't expect to win, but I thought I would do a lot better.

"It is not good for democracy, but hopefully, some good may come of it."

New Stone Urban Councillor Phillip Jones, of Old Road, Stone, said: "The people of Stone have spoken. They have shown they want people beyond reproach, both locally and nationally."

But outgoing Labour Councillor Harry Brunt said: "We probably pulled personal votes, rather than party votes.

"The last week has not helped at all. I'm a supporter of Gordon Brown, but some of the MPs have let him and us down."

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STAFFORDSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTION RESULTS