THE Conservatives enjoyed a superb night in the East Riding of Yorkshire, taking outright control of the council for the first time.

They went into yesterday's election with 29 seats out of 67, but extended their share to more than 40, as the Liberal Democrats suffered widespread disappointment.

In Pocklington Provincial, the Tories claimed a convincing hat-trick, winning all three seats with ease.

Two of the seats had been held by independents, but neither sought re-election, allowing the Tories to clean up.

Mark Preston retained his seat in Howden, while the Tories also won all three in Wolds Weighton and gained one from the Social Democrats in Bridlington Central and Old Town.

They had further success in Snaith, Airmyn and Rawcliffe and Marshlands, taking both seats from Labour.

Elsewhere, there was a narrow victory in Goole South for Beryl Beck-Taylor of the Lib Dems.

Coun Beck-Taylor won 670 votes, beating Labour's Kevin Duffy by just 18.

Labour's Pat O'Neil won the other Goole South seat with 691 votes. Labour and the Lib Dems also won one each in Goole North.

The council had been under no overall control going into the election.