THE Scarborough and Whitby MP for the past eight years, Lawrie Quinn, lost his seat to Terrington farmer and former MEP Robert Goodwill early today.

Mr Quinn, who lives in York, stunned the Labour Party at a national level in 1997 when he took the seat from the Conservatives in 1997 after it had been in Tory and Whig hands for more than 80 years.

But despite a dramatic 11th hour appearance in Scarborough by Premier Tony Blair on Wednesday night to make his last speech of the election, Mr Quinn was defeated by 1,245 votes, polling 18,003 votes against Mr Goodwill's tally of 19,248.

Mr Quinn had held the seat in 2001 with a majority of 3,585, but the Tories ploughed in extensive resources in terms of manpower and funds to win it back.

Mr Goodwill, who was previously a Conservative MEP for North Yorkshire, said he had considerable backing from the countryside electorate, especially the hunting fraternity, who had worked tirelessly on his behalf.

He said much needed to be done to benefit Scarborough and Whitby and the scores of villages in the constituency and he pledged to help.

Mr Quinn, a former member of North Yorkshire County Council and a railway engineer, said he was disappointed by the result.

"I have worked hard and spoken up for many organisations and individuals.

"I believe I have been a good constituency MP," he said.

The Liberal Democrats' Tania Exley-Moore, a lecturer at Scarborough Sixth Form College, nearly trebled her party's vote on the 2001 result, with 7,495 votes.

The other candidates were Jonathan Dixon (Green), 1,214, and Paul Abbott (UKIP), 952. Turnout was 63.6 per cent.

:: Scarborough and Whitby result

Robert Goodwill, (Conservative) 19,248

Lawrie Quinn, (Labour) 18,003

Tania Exley-Moore, (Lib Dem) 7,495

Jonathan Dixon, (Green) 1,214

Paul Abbott, (UKIP) 952

Updated: 10:45 Friday, May 06, 2005