THE ruling Conservative group at Somerset County Council have said they will bounce back following last week's by-election defeat at South Petherton.

Paul Maxwell won the seat for the Liberal Democrats by securing more than 50 per cent of the 2,488 votes cast in the election.

The Conservative vote dropped from 1,341 in May 2009 to 943 as candidate Paul Thompson failed to keep the seat for the Tories following the resignation of Anne Larpent.

Tory council leader, Cllr Ken Maddock, told The News: “Of course we are disappointed to lose any election. We had a good local candidate and he put in a lot of effort locally.

“But we accept the result and will try hard to win it back next time. But we will continue to work to put the council back on an even keel and place our achievements before the electorate in the 2013 county council elections.”

LibDems believe the result has given the Conservatives a ‘wake-up call.'

LibDem Yeovil MP David Laws has congratulated Cllr Maxwell on his decisive 390-vote victory and described it as a “stunning” win.

Cllr Maxwell said: “I believe this result is a wake-up call to the Conservatives on the county council, who have been implementing some very damaging policies such as closing waste centres and libraries, and axing rural bus routes.”

The Conservatives still hold an eight-seat majority at County Hall with 33 councillors and the LibDems having 23 and Labour two.

By-election result: Paul Maxwell (LibDem) 1,333; Paul Thompson (Conservative) 943; Ian Greenfield (Green Party) 108; Godfrey Davey (UKIP) 104. Turnout: 42 per cent.