There has been no change in the political make-up at Cherwell District Council.

Seventeen seats were up for grabs in Thursday’s election, but 15 returned to sitting councillors.

For the other two seats, Chris Heath stepped into her husband Eric’s shoes to win Bloxham and Bodicote for the Conservatives, and Tim Emptage retained Kidlington South for the Liberal Democrats after Davena Rae stepped down.

It means the Tories retain control, with 44 of the 50 seats.

A total of 43,199 people voted across Cherwell out of 66,829 who were registered to vote.

Council leader Barry Wood increased his majority by 304, but he warned the next four years would be challenging. He said: “I’m delighted. I put the win down to being a local man and working hard for the ward.

“I think the next four years will continue to be challenging for local government.

“We still need to continue to be efficient and we still need to keep council tax as low as we possibly can and that’s going to be in the context of a virtually bankrupt country.”

Voting slips had been left overnight, watched by CCTV cameras, as the General Election count took priority.

Paul O’Sullivan, a parish and district councillor for 40 years, made it to the count to secure another term despite being injured in a car crash last month.

Mr O’Sullivan, of the Deddington ward, suffered a bruised sternum, broken ribs and cuts and bruises when his car flipped after hitting a parked vehicle on the A4260.

The council’s older people’s champion said: “I got out canvassing this week, but have had a good gang out canvassing for me.”

Labour councillor George Parish, who will take over as chairman of Cherwell District Council later this month, said this would be his last term.

He said: “I just wanted another four years to continue campaigning for the Horton Hospital and make sure it’s safe.”

Kieron Mallon, a town, district and county councillor, said: “The results did show the fantastic investment Cherwell has made in Banbury over the past few years, the sports centre, Woodgreen pool and pedestrianisation of Market Place.

“On the agenda for us now is to work with the Environment Agency to try to provide adequate flood protection for the town centre, which will allow us to regenerate Banbury.”

Alyas Ahmed, who beat Labour opponent Surinder Dhesi by just 19 votes, put it down to more people coming out to vote for the General Election.

He said: “I thought there would be a bigger lead – I took the county council seat last year by a bigger margin.”