Council leader Tory Jeremy Christophers said after his win in the three-horse fight at Haytor: 'This was not a forgone conclusion.

'The other two candidates put up a really good fight.

'I am very relieved and pleased to continue the work for Haytor.

'It's a lovely ward.

'We have taken some tough decisions in the council over the last four years but I think we will see the positive results of taking those unpopular decisions.'

Nationally, he said the Conservative party needed to be 'a little bit cautious' of over cutting the economy.

He conceded it would not be easy for the government with such a narrow majority.

'It's time for people to find their voice on the whole decentralisation topic,' he said.

'Another new government would make sure that the south west got its fair share under the new regime.'

But in Teignbridge, he hoped the massive investment in infrastructure would finally start to make more sense to the local community.