The Liberal Democrats have seized control of Eastbourne Borough Council from the Conservatives in the local elections.

They now have 15 seats to the Tories' 12.

There were some surprises as former true blue Tory strongholds turned gold.

Former Conservative councillor Sheila Charlton swapped wards to fight for a seat in the newly-created St Anthony's ward - but was beaten into fourth place behind Lib Dem candidates David Tutt, John Harris and Norman Marsh.

New Lib Dem council leader Beryl Healy said the recent boundary changes had worked in her party's favour but insisted people were ready for change.

She said: "We were always confident that we were going to win. All the people in Eastbourne we visited were telling us what they felt about the Tories. It shows that things are changing slowly but surely."

The boundary changes reduced ten wards to nine, and 30 councillors slogged it out for 27 places.

Former Tory council leader Graham Marsden said he was disappointed but warned the Lib Dems they had only one year before some seats came up for re-election again.

He said: "We put in two years of hard work and built a firm foundation in Eastbourne. I hope the Lib Dems build on that foundation."

Coun Marsden, who maintained his Upperton ward seat until 2006, said it was too early to say whether issues such as the closure of Old Town library had cost his party the vote.

He said: "We will be meeting to discuss what went wrong."

The turn-out was estimated at 39 per cent, a rise of over eight per cent since the last council elections two years ago, when the Tories swept to power.

For the first time the results were broadcast live on the council's web site. Winning councillors were photographed and their pictures displayed online.

Labour, the Green Party and the UK Independence Party failed to win a seat.

Results (* indicates sitting councillor):

Devonshire (three seats): Beryl Healy* (LD) 1600; Beryl Teso (LD) 1480; Neil Stanley* (LD) 1462; Martin Charlton (C) 515; Sandra Elkin (C) 500; Diane Leagas (C) 453; Daniel Richardson (G) 269; Peter Tucker (L) 223. LD gain.

Hampden Park (three seats): Mary Pooley* (LD) 1278; Michael Thompson* (LD) 1149; Olive Woodall* (LD) 1148; Nora Ring (L) 523; David Brinson (L) 514; Martin Falkner (L) 451; Jeanie Sowerby (C) 328; Pamela Cook (C) 321; Russell Riseley (C) 312; Leslie Dalton (Green) 114; Finbar O'Shea (Green) 112; Richard Luxford (Green) 79. LD hold.

Langney (three seats): Christopher Berry (LD) 1255; Irene Sims (LD) 1178; Robert Slater (LD) 1118; Alexander Richards (C) 596; Iain Andrews (C) 574; Thomas Walters (C) 554; John Morrison (L) 139; Jonathan Pettigrew (L) 109; Christine Quarrington (Green) 86. LD hold.

Meads (three seats): David Stevens* (C) 2001; Barry Taylor* (C) 1967; David Elkin* (C) 1949; Beverley Berry* (LD) 731; Margaret Ticehurst (LD) 686; Kevin Aylott (LD) 662; Clive Gross (Green) 351; John Pettigrew (L) 280; Kenneth Alderton (UK Independence) 174; Royston Maryan (UK Independence) 129. C hold.

Old Town (three seats): Albert Leggett* (LD) 2161; Maurice Skilton* (LD) 2153; John Creaven (LD) 1942; Ian Lucas (C) 1252; Simon Herbert (C) 1166; John Stanbury* (C) 1156; Liam Stevens (G) 408; Robert Rossetter (L) 216; Michael Phipp (Ind) 146. LD hold (two), LD gain (one).

Ratton (three seats): Colin Belsey* (C) 1641; Barbara Goodall* (C) 1628; Sandie Howlett (C) 1564; Jacqueline Harris (LD) 806; Penelope Cunliffe-Lister (LD) 793; Mary Schmoller (LD) 661; David Buck (L) 295; Nancy Dalton (Green) 242. C hold.

St. Anthony's (newly created ward boundaries, three seats): David Tutt (LD) 2005; John Harris* (LD) 1987; Norman Marsh* (LD) 1907; Sheila Charlton* (C) 827; John Davidson (C) 762; John Wilton (C) 705; Helen Sedgewick (L) 221; Robert Sier (Green) 164. LD gain.

Sovereign (newly created ward boundaries, three seats): Patrick Bowker* (C) 1001; Christopher Williams* (C) 970; Patrick Warner (C) 925; Alan Carroll (LD) 648; Michael Bloom (LD) 638; Richard Ellis (LD) 632; Linus Gunning (Ind) 175; Jacqueline Pilkington (L) 172; Jocelyn McCarthy (G) 124. C hold.

Upperton: Graham Marsden* (C) 1390; Robert Lacey* (C) 1332; Ann Murray* (C) 1311; Troy Tester (LD) 989; Brian Whitby (LD) 966; Stuart Pritcher (LD) 964; Susan Montague (Green) 292; Michael Tucker (L) 213. C hold.