Reform take control of Lincolnshire County Council
Reform UK has taken overall control of Lincolnshire County Council following Thursday's local election.
As counting continues, they have hit the majority needed with 36 seats, currently ahead of the Lib Dems in second, who have five seats so far.
It marks a double success for the party, which earlier saw Dame Andrea Jenkyns elected as the county's first mayor in a resounding victory.
Outgoing council leader Martin Hill, who has led the authority for 20 years, said there had been a "tidal wave of Reform crashing over us".
Hill, who retained his Folkingham Rural seat, added: "It's all about national politics, they had very simplistic messages.
"On the doorstep, people were saying they were fed up with both national parties.
"Immigration was a big issue and that's what it all seemed to be about."
All 70 seats across the county council were contested and the results showed a huge swing from the 2021 election, when the Tories secured a majority 54 seats.
Andrea Jenkyns: Ex-Greggs worker with knack for bouncing back
Reform's Andrea Jenkyns elected Lincolnshire mayor
AT A GLANCE: What happened overnight and what's still to come?
East Lindsey went to Reform in its entirety, with big wins in Lincoln, Boston and South Holland.
There were also some high-profile Conservative casualties, including Colin Davie, who lost his Ingoldmells Rural seat to Reform by almost 1,000 votes.
Fellow councillors Wendy Bowkett, Daniel McNally, Patricia Bradwell and William Gray, who have decades of council experience between them, will also be leaving the chamber.
The Liberal Democrats narrowly managed to retain two seats in Gainsborough, including that of district council leader and Mayoral candidate, Trevor Young, who won by 17 votes.
Elsewhere, the Lib Dems have picked up three new seats which currently makes them the second largest party in the county.
Independent Richard Cleaver won big in Stamford West.
Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
LIVE: Follow the latest election updates
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FULL COVERAGE: Catch up on all our election stories
Sir John Curtice: Reform challenging traditional party dominance
Matt Chorley: Local elections might lack glamour - but they matter
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