THE Conservative Party strengthened their control of North Yorkshire County Council, increasing their seats to 55 out of 72.

The Tories took more than 50 per cent of the vote across the county, with second place Labour on 16 per cent. Ten Independent councillors will now make up the official opposition to the Tories at County Hall.

The district of Ryedale turned almost entirely blue, with the Conservatives making two gains to take five of the six seats.

Their candidate Keane Duncan, 22, took the Norton division from Liberal Democrat veteran Elizabeth Shields to become the youngest county councillor in the authority’s history. Mr Duncan won in a landslide. Of a total 2750 votes cast, he received 1,599, with Mrs Shields on 715 and the Liberal Party challenger Tim Thornton on 429.

Mr Duncan said: “I’m absolutely elated with the result, as you can imagine. There were some people who said I was a bit too young to be a county councillor, bit too inexperienced. It looks like 1,599 people disagree with that view. So thank you to all the people who cast their vote for me. We put a lot of hard work in so I’m pleased that’s been recognised.”

Mrs Shields said it had been a difficult campaign. She said: “The so-called Liberal party had a candidate and they threw everything they could at Norton. It’s been quite horrific. But my people have been very good. I’ve done an enormous amount of canvassing. I have to thank the team, they’ve been a great support throughout. I really hoped I would be able to hold the seat for the people of Norton. It’s very disappointing.”

There was drama elsewhere as the tightly-contested Pickering seat, after at least one recount, also went to the Tories. Their candidate Greg White beat the Liberal Party incumbent John Clark by just two votes - 1,210 to 1,208.

The Conservatives also held their three Ryedale seats from 2013, with Janet Sanderson winning Thornton Dale and the Wolds, Val Arnold winning Kirkbymoorside, and new candidate Caroline Goodrick winning Hovingham and Sheriff Hutton. Ms Goodrick said: “It was a very hard fought campaign. I’m very grateful to my opponents who worked very hard and had us worried.”

UKIP, did not field any candidates in Ryedale this year. A Thirsk & Malton UKIP spokesman said: “UKIP Thirsk & Malton has kept its powder dry, and limited resources in reserve, for the General Election. Hence our holding back on the local elections. This is a decision that events have proved to be fully justified.”

In the Selby district, there was a turnout of just under 33 per cent. All of the nine divisions were taken by the Conservatives, apart from Osgoldcross, which went to Independent John McCartney, Tadcaster, which was won by Don Mackay - also standing as an Independent - and Selby Barlby, where one of the seats went to Steph Duckett of Labour.