Lib Dems secure a majority at Horsham District Council in astonishing council election result

Already with a strong base in Horsham town, the party took all four Holbrook seats from the Conservatives as well as the four in Southwater and three in Billingshurst.

The Lib Dems also took Nuthurst and Lower Beeding as well as a seat in both Cowfold, Shermanbury and West Grinstead as well as Itchingfield, Slinfold and Warnham.

And then the Greens picked off a number of Conservative seats in the South Downs villages, winning all three in Storrington and Washington, both in Steyning and Ashurst as well as two out of three in Pulborough, Coldwaltham and Amberley.

The Lib Dems finished with 28 seats, the Conservatives have 11, the Greens 8 and there is one independent.

Martin Boffey, Lib Dem group leader, said: “Horsham has been a one party state for 24 years. Today that changes. People have voted for better, given us their trust and we will strive to repay it.

“We will now work on our cabinet appointments to deliver on our manifesto by continuing to address the cost of living crisis, ending Tory planning chaos, and

taking real action to protect our environment.

“We knocked on 2000 doors alone last weekend. People told us they supported our positive campaign for change and that they just couldn’t bring themselves to support the Conservatives anymore, reflecting the national mood.

“After a generation in opposition we don’t take this chance to serve the people of Horsham for granted. We will work hard every day to deliver for all the residents of Horsham.”