NEWLY elected Oxford West and Abingdon MP Nicola Blackwood said she had not expected to win the seat.

The 30-year-old Conservative won her place as an MP after gaining 176 more votes than Liberal Democrat Evan Harris.

Ms Blackwood said: "I feel rather elated. I have to say this wasn't the result I expected when I came over in the car this evening.

"This was a seat where every single vote counted."

Miss Blackwood won the seat by 176 votes just after 4am.

Dr Harris, speaking on a televised BBC interview, said: "I lost by 176 votes. It wasn't comprehensive.

"It was a marginal seat. I accept a week ago we certainly were not expecting it to be that marginal."