The Conservative group consolidated in Arun with an outstanding showing at the polls.

The party's triumphant day saw them secure 43 of the 56 seats on the council - an increase of seven.

Their biggest scalp came in Pevensey ward, Bognor, where Trevor Bence ousted Labour group leader Jan Cosgrove, an Arun district councillor for 14 years.

The Liberal Democrat group secured nine seats, making no gains or losses.

The British National Party, while taking no seats, managed to secure a significant number of votes, particularly in Bognor.

Independents, Jim Brooks, took Marine ward and Sylvia Olliver took a seat in Bersted ward.

The biggest loser was the Labour group, which took only three seats, a loss of five.

Mr Cosgrove put his defeat down to a "major protest vote" against the party.

Highly experienced Labour councillor George O'Neill also lost his seat in Wick with Toddington ward where Tory June Caffyn romped home with a majority of 119 votes.

He said: "I'm not bitter about it. I'm a democrat and this country is democratic thank God and the electorate have spoken.

"I've been a councillor for 14 years, so I've had a good run at it. There are serious issues which needed to be sorted out in Bognor and I hope my successor gets to grips with them.

"I have nothing to say about the BNP except maybe their evident success to galvanise a lot of previous non-voters into casting their votes, mainly on an anti-Polish message, should be a wake-up call to the main parties."

Bognor and Littlehampton Tory MP Nick Gibb said: "I'm very pleased with the way things have gone.

"I think it shows that Cameron effect is making real progress. It is that steady but tangible progress under Cameron which is so encouraging."

Council leader Gill Brown held her seat comfortably by a majority of 109 votes from her nearest rival, Tory, Robin Brown.

Former council leader and ex submarine captain Norman Dingemans held his seat comfortably in Walberton, with a majority of 534 votes.

Lib Dem stalwart and West Sussex county councillor, Dr James Walsh held his seat in Beach Ward, with a majority of 160 votes.

Seats in Arundel and Findon were not contested and therefore remain in Tory hands.

There were a total of 56 seats up for election across the 26 wards in Arun district.

The political makeup of Arun District Council is now 43 Conservatives, two Independents, 9 Liberal Democrats and three Labour.