THE Conservatives swept to victory in a tidal wave across Teignbridge in the Devon County Council elections.Overnight the district changed from yellow to blue as the Liberal Democrats lost five seats, only Alan Connett (Exminster and Kenton), Anne Fry (Newton Abbot North) and Gordon Hook (Newton Abbot South) preventing all 11 seats ebbing away completely.It was a similar story throughout Devon with the Tory bandwagon rolling into county hall and taking control, with 41 seats, from the previous incumbents the Lib Dems on 14, Labour four, Independents two and the Green Party one.In what was an unexpectedly high turnout – many political pundits had predicted a 'stay away' backlash after the parliamentary expenses scandals – the Lib Dems were left licking their wounds in Teignbridge, none more so than the county council's deputy chairman John Smith in the Kingsteignton ward.He was not only toppled by the mayor of Kingsteignton, Mike Walters (Con) but could only fill third spot behind Andrew Fear (United Kingdom Independence Party).The leader of Teignbridge Council, Cllr Connett, clung onto Exminster and Kenton by 33 votes from Tory Ken Lake, after a recount.Nearly 52 per cent registered their votes in the ward.'It was a very close fight. I thought it would be after the by-election in November and it was testament to our hard work and getting out on the doorsteps.'I am thrilled to bits I have won. Having a reputation for hard work has won it for me,' said Cllr Connett.Cllr Lake, a local chef, had wrested the district authority seat from the Lib Dems for the first time in more than 20 years, last year.'In November the Lib Dem majority stood at more than 800. Now it is down to 33. Such a small majority seems a cruel result, but I am pleased we demolished a huge majority on such an established candidate,' he said.Another Lib Dem to lose her seat was Sally Morgan in Bovey Tracey Rural.She was ousted by Conservative George Gribble, a 69-year-old retired businessman and long-serving town councillor and former mayor of the town.'People have voted for change. They want their taxes spent in their own area to help the elderly and young in particular,' said Cllr Gribble.As the blue wave continued to envelop the district, Teign Estuary fell to the Conservatives – Chris Clarance unshipping Lib Dem David Cox.Sharing in his jubilation at the count at the Newton Abbot Leisure Centre, on Friday, was his fiancee Sally Chapman.Four years ago Cllr Clarance fought as an Independent, finishing third behind the Lib Dems and Tories though still polling an impressive 957 votes.The semi-retired businessman said it was nice to have a victory.'I have spent a long time in opposition and it is nice to be on the other side,' he added.Cllr Clarance has been on the district council since 2003 and on Shaldon Parish Council since 1986.'At least this time I did not lose my teeth,' he quipped. While electioneering during the Teignbridge Council elections he lost his false teeth.Across the water in Teignmouth, James McMurray was another celebrating for the Tories after edging out Chris Bray (Lib Dems) by 89 votes.Cllr McMurray, a law business studies lecturer at the South Devon College, has served on Teignmouth Town Council for the past two years.In Teignbridge South it was another Tory gain, Dennis Smith was the successful candidate in a former Lib Dem seat where Phil Cook had stood down.Retaining their seats for the Conservatives were Stuart Barker, Jerry Brook and John Clatworthy who demolished the opposition in Ashburton and Buckfastleigh, Chudleigh Rural and Dawlish respectively.Managing to buck the trend in Newton Abbot North and Newton Abbot South were Lib Dems Anne Fry and Gordon Hook.With the way the results were panning out, Cllr Fry admitted she was worried at the count.'I am very happy I have won. I have worked hard for the town and wanted to be able to continue progressing the work I have undertaken so far,' she said.Cllr Hook had a 771 majority – almost 52 per cent of the vote – and the highest percentage Lib Dem vote across Devon, Cornwall and Somerset.'I am particularly pleased in view of the volatile electoral climate we are living in. I am pleased to represent people irrespective of their party allegiance,' he stated.It was a disastrous election for Labour who in ten of the Teignbridge seats finished bottom of the poll and joint last in the other.Jermaine Atiya-Alla, Labour's Prospective Parliamentary candidate for Newton Abbot, said it had not been a very good day for any of the parties because of the sleaze in parliament.'We have to keep fighting. I will still be out campaigning and seeing people on the doorsteps. Nationally though we do need to get a grip of ourselves,' he said.Though they did not win a seat in Teignbridge the Green Party polled more than 4,000 votes, delighting Robert Somerville, chairman of the party's South Devon Branch.'It is the first time we have stood in all 11 seats in Teignbridge and we have made our presence felt,' said Mr Somerville whose 910 votes in Ashburton and Buckfastleigh represented 19 per cent of the vote.'People took the opportunity to vote Green to express their concerns about climate change, peak oil and the depletion of natural resources,' he said.Overall in Devon the Conservatives polled 106,411 votes (41.9 per cent), Lib Dems 75,815 (29.9), UKIP 22,809 (9.0), Green 17,290 (6.8), Labour 15,369 (6.1) and Independents 11,768 (4.6).Results of the Teignbridge wards on Devon County Council (*Denotes sitting councillor): Ashburton and Buckfastleigh – *Stuart Dennis Barker (Con) 2,333 elected; Richard Arthur Branston (Lab) 205; John Nutley (Lib Dem) 1,359; Robert James Somerville (Green) 910. Majority 974. Spoilt ballots 43. Turnout 46 per cent.Bovey Tracey Rural – George Gribble (Con) 2,213 elected; Daniel Hutton Ferris (Green) 321; *Sally Angela Morgan (Lib Dem) 1,568; Michal Ann Taylor (Lab) 114; Bob Watkins (UKIP) 526. Maj 645. Spoilt 17. Turnout 53.4 per cent.Chudleigh Rural – *Jerry Brook (Con) 2,174 elected; Keith Clements (Green) 389; Richard Paul Curran (UKIP) 833; Paul Newton French (Lab) 215; Keith Arnold Smith (Lib Dem) 1,015. Maj 1,159. Spoilt nine. Turnout 48.52 per cent.Dawlish – *John Clatworthy (Con) 2,236 elected; Derek Richard Collins (Lib Dem) 969; Richard William Walker Fairfax (Green) 273; Margaret Ruth Fountain (UKIP) 901; Graham Eric Hesse (Lab) 236. Maj 1,267. Spoilt 17. Turnout 42.4 per cent.Exminster and Kenton – Andrew Hugh Bragg (Green) 345; *Alan Michael Connett (Lib Dem) 1,663 elected; Kevin Andrew Lake (Con) 1,630; Rachel Helen Sutton (Lab) 86. Maj 33. Spoilt 16. Turnout 51.08 per cent.Kingsteignton – Jane Baker (Green) 267; Babs Errington (Lab) 229; Andrew Mark Fear (UKIP) 886; *John Noel Smith (Lib Dem) 655; Mike Walters (Con) 1,269 elected. Maj 383. Spoilt 13. Turnout 37 per cent.Newton Abbot North – Lucia Capaldi (Green) 408; *Anne Fry (Lib Dem) 1,323 elected; Robert Alexander Kennedy (Lab) 208; Lorna Lowes (Con) 1,132. Maj 191. Spoilt 34. Turnout 33.5 per cent.Newton Abbot South – Anthony Ballinger (Con) 1,169; *Gordon Nicholas Hook (Lib Dem) 1,940 elected; Barry Benjamin Kaye (Lab) 201; Corrine Jane Lindsey (Green) 441. Maj 771. Spoilt 32. Turnout 37.97 per cent.Teign Estuary – Chris Clarance (Con) 1,618 elected; *David Nicholas Cox (Lib Dem) 1,306; Alan Albert Lumb (Lab) 127; Adrian Porter (Green) 211; Richard Lionel Stanton (UKIP) 642. Maj 312. Spoilt 14. Turnout 44.6 per cent.Teignbridge South – Alistair Dewhirst (Lib Dem) 1,590; Karen Eberhardt-Shelton (Green) 561; Mary Brenda Kennedy (Lab) 152; Dennis Esmond Smith (Con) 1,849 elected. Maj 259. Spoilt 28. Turnout 46.82 per cent.Teignmouth – Colin Joseph Authers 129; *Christopher John Bray (Lib Dem) 1,120; Niall Thomas Duffy (Lab) 129; Ros Langdon (Green) 177; James McMurray (Con) 1,209 elected; Roy Gordon Phillips (Ind) 228; Chris Whitlock (UKIP) 631. Maj 89. Spoilt 17. Turnout 45 per cent.