THE Tories clinched the key marginal Warrington South seat today as David Mowat narrowly defeated Labour's Nick Bent by just over 1,500 votes in a keenly fought contest.
Mowat polled 19,641 votes, Bent 18,088 while Lib Dem Jo Crotty came third with 15,094.
But it was a nail biting evening for all three parties as early straw polls indicated a three horse race.
With counting going on through the night it was only in the final hour that the Tories gained a narrow lead.
But the result was tarnished with allegations by the Conservatives and Labour that the Lib Dems had run a dishonest campaign with claims of election malpractice concerning the placing of orange ballot boxes featuring Jo Crotty's image at polling stations across the borough.
The Conservatives have lodged an official complaint which the police are being asked to investigate.
Meanwhile there were no surprises in the safe Labour seat of Warrington North where current MP Helen Jones won with a resounding majority.

Top picture shows David Mowat estimating the size of his victory watched by his beaming agent and local councillor Paul Kennedy.

What went wrong? A disappointed Lib Dem leader Ian Marks reflects on what went wrong with Lib Dem supporters.

Defeated Jo Crotty accused of a dishonest campaign full of  "lies."

Click on the image below to see video coverage of the election night including interviews with David Mowat and Nick Bent.

Full General election results:
Warrington North: Paul Thomas Campbell, Conservative; (13,364) Dave Eccles, Liberal Democrat;(9,196) Helen Mary Jones, Labour; (20,135) Albert Scott, Independent (1,516).
Warrington South: James Ashington, UK Independence Party;(1,624) Nick Bent, Labour; (18,088) Jo Crotty, Liberal Democrat; (15,094) Stephanie Davies, Green Party;(427) David John Mowat, Conservative.(19,641).