Adur goes to the polls: 2014 local election results

Turnout in Adur was 37.64 per cent for the European elections, 37.82 per cent for local elections and 40.83 per cent for the parish council vote.

UKIP stole five seats, snatching four from the Tories and one from the Lib Dems.

It was smiles all round for the purple party, who have gained a significant foothold in the council chamber.

First-time candidates Geoff Patmore (Widewater), Ken Bishop (Southlands), David Lambourne (Mash Barn) and Lyn Phillips (Cokeham) all secured victories, as did former Lib Dem, Liz Haywood (Mash Barn).

The conservatives managed to hold on to nine seats, but it was a miserable afternoon for the Lib Dems who lost their last remaining seat after Richard Burt stepped down.

Janet Mockeridge stepped down in Hillside, but her Tory seat was secured by David Simmons.

James Butcher won the first seat of the day, in Churchill ward, Lancing.

He said: “It was regeneration versus stagnation and regeneration won.”

UKIP took Southlands and Cokeham from the Tories, while Hillside went to the Tories again.

Ken Bishop, winner in Southlands said: “It’s wonderful. It was worth all the hard work. Now the real work starts.”

Jim Funnell retained Eastbrook ward for the Tories, with UKIP more than 100 votes behind.

“I’d like to thank all my colleagues,” he said. “I have had a difficult time over the last month and they have done a lot for me and I’m grateful for what they have done and I’m obviously pleased to be returned again.”

Fist-time candidate Geoff Patmore won Widewater for UKIP with 99 more votes than the Tories.

“I’m ecstatic,” he said. “Common sense has prevailed. It was hard fought.”

Linda Phillips also won Cokeham ward for UKIP, beating the Tories by more than 100 votes.

“I’m absolutely amazed,” she said.

“Obviously I’m very pleased and very very surprised. I could see when I was out canvassing that feeling was very mixed in Cokeham.

“I hope it bodes well for the rest of the results. Coming first is fantastic.”

Tory Emma Evans won in Buckingham, with 678 votes and a winning margin of more than 400.

“I’m concerned that 250 people still think for an extremist party is the way to go when it’s all about local policies,” she said.

“UKIP have no local policies and yet 250 people are still voting for them.

“I don’t feel it’s a victory. I won’t stop working until that 250 goes down to zero.”

Adur chairman Mike Mendoza retained St Mary’s ward with more than 500 votes.