THE Conservative Party has won an overwhelming majority in the Devon County Council elections, taking control for the first time in 20 years with 41 of the 62 seats.

THE Conservative Party has won an overwhelming majority in the Devon County Council elections, taking control for the first time in 20 years with 41 of the 62 seats.As Devon went to the polls, the turnout was bigger than expected for a local election at 43.9 per cent, with more than 255,000 votes being cast.41.9 per cent of the votes went to the Conservatives, 29.9% to the Liberal Democrats, and 6.1 per cent to Labour. Of the smaller parties, the UK Independence Party polled 9 per cent, the Green Party received 6.8 per cent of the vote, and 4.6 per cent went to Independent candidates.The Liberal Democrats won 14 seats, Labour retained 4, two seats were taken by Independent candidates and the Green Party won its first ever seat in the county in Totnes.Devon County Council is the largest local authority in the South West with an annual budget of over �1billion per year and responsibility for 85 per cent of all local public services in the county including key services such as schools, roads and social care.