Pembrokeshire Conservatives are celebrating after increasing their councillor numbers five-fold.

"We have gone from no representation on the Council just eight months ago to winning five seats," said newly re-elected Aden Brinn. Mr Brinn, who originally won his Pembroke St Michael seat at a by-election last September, was returned this time with a much-increased majority.

The party also won in Rudbaxton, Milford Haven North, Wiston and Scleddau.

After fielding just one candidate at the last round of Council Elections in 2004, this time the party contested half of the 60 seats, coming a close second in many.

In Pembroke Dock's Llanion ward the Independents and Conservatives jointly polled more than the winning Labour candidate.

"The result in Llanion proves there's no such thing as a Labour heartland in Pembrokeshire any longer," said Conservative Parliamentary candidate for South
Pembrokeshire Simon Hart.

"It was previously known as one of Labour's strongest wards but more people voted against the party than for them. "Elsewhere Conservative candidates made significant inroads into the Labour vote confirming that Pembrokeshire is a Conservative County."

Wiston's new councillor David Howlett said: "The Conservatives have gone from no representation just three years ago to having an MP, two Assembly Members and now five councillors serving the community.

"We'd like to thank anyone who voted for us and reassure everyone that we'll work for them whether they voted for us or not."