The Liberal Democrats no longer have a single seat in Hertsmere for the first time in the council's history.

The party suffered a crushing blow in the local elections, losing its only two seats on Hertsmere Borough Council.

Group leader Roger Kutchinsky, chose to stand in Bushey Heath, rather than his previous ward Bushey North, but lost by a staggering majority to Conservative Councillor Paul Morris who retained his position.

The vacant seat in Bushey North was taken by Conservative candidate Leslie Winters, while fellow Conservative representative Carey Keates won in Bushey St James, where Liberal Democrat Anita Gamble stood down.

The results mean the Liberal Democrats have lost all of their seats in the borough, but Councillor Kutchinsky said it was not the end for the party locally.

He said: "The people have spoken and I am not sure all of our supporters have sympathy with the move into a coalition. There has been a national trend against the Liberal Democrats and that has taken its toll locally.

"I don't see this as the end of the party in Hertsmere but we will have to rebuild from a much lower base. We will still be active in the area, campaigning on pressing matters for the residents of Bushey."

Leader of the council, Councillor Morris Bright, said he was delighted at his party gaining one seat in the borough, but said he was not concerned that there is no-longer cross party representation in the council chamber.

He said: "I would be more disappointed for the Liberal Democrats if they had fielded candidates in every ward, but in Borehamwood they were absent.

"I am very disappointed that people like Roger Kutchinsky have gone, but the reality is that this is democracy and people have made their choice."