THE Liberal Democrats have strengthened their control on South Lakeland District Council as the Conservatives suffered disappointing defeats in four seats.

Staveley-in-Cartmel and Sedbergh and Kirkby Lonsdale were both won by the Liberal Democrats, while Labour took Ulverston Town and Ulverston Central.

Local Tories had hoped to take Milnthorpe and Hawkshead but both remained Lib Dem as the party performed far better in south Cumbria than elsewhere in the UK.

Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron, who is also Liberal Democrat President, said he was ‘humbled at the result’.

“We know that local elections are a close run thing because they become referendums on the Government,” said Mr Farron.

He said the party had ‘bucked the trend in South Lakeland’ after a tough election night nationally where the party has lost around 350 seats.

He added: “These are tough times but it’s a reminder that in tough times you can still hang on.”

Mr Farron dedicated the victory to South Lakeland District Council’s former leader, Brendan Jameson, who died in March.

Liberal Democrat candidate Giles Archibald won the Kendal Fell ward, which was held by the late Mr Jameson, while John McCreesh won his former Cumbria County Council seat, Kendal Strickland and Fell, in a by-election.

“It’s a massive tribute to Brendan Jameson because a lot of the things we have achieved are through his determination”, added Mr Farron.

Hilary Stephenson, acting South Lakeland District Council leader, said she was ‘absolutely delighted’ at the Liberal Democrats' successes.

“I was expecting that we would at least hold our position,” said Coun Stephenson.

“We had excellent candidates with a proud record of commitment to their communities.

“I am very appreciative that the electorate has endorsed their commitment to the community and Liberal Democrat values.”

Coun James Airey, leader of the Conservatives on South Lakeland District Council, said the results were ‘hugely disappointing’ and a result of the Coalition’s national policies.

Kevin Lancaster, in Sedbergh and Kirkby Lonsdale, and Norman Bishop-Rowe, in Ulverston Central, both lost their seats.

“National policies have played a big part,” said Coun Airey.

“We have lost four very good colleagues and a couple of long standing councillors who have served their communities well”.

Coun Airey said the Tories would still be a strong opposition in South Lakeland.

He added: “We have been lower than this before and picked ourselves up and proven that we are a credible opposition. We need to get people to understand that these were local elections.”

Speaking of his party's double win in Ulverston, Barrow and Furness Labour MP John Woodcock said: "The people of Ulverston have sent the Conservatives a message that they are angry at the Government’s abject failure to return the country to jobs and growth.

“I am delighted that the town has elected Labour councillors who will work hard on their behalf and have really good ideas to improve parking and markets in the town."

The political make up of South Lakeland District Council is now: Liberal Democrats with 33 seats (up from 31), Conservatives with 13 seats (down from 17) and Labour with three seats (up from one).

The provisional turnout in the district council election was 48.2 per cent.