THE seaside towns of Dawlish and Teignmouth will continue to be represented by the Liberal Democrats at County Hall as the present incumbents for both are re-elected.

Town and district councillor Rosie Dawson will now represent Dawlish at Devon County Council after winning today’s election [Friday, May 2].

The Liberal Democrat said she was blown away after learning she had been elected to represent the town at County Hall.

‘It’s an absolute honour to be trusted by the public’ Rosie said.

‘I’m ready to start work this afternoon’ she added.

Reform UK’s Christopher Hilditch came second.

Liberal Democrat Councillor David Cox said he was ‘very pleased’ to have won the Teignmouth seat, but admitted it was very close.

Councillor Cox won with a 165 vote majority over Reform UK candidate Steve Horner.

‘There has clearly been a national swing’ David said.

With that, the Liberal Democrats retained their control over the two seaside towns.

The party won Chudleigh and Teign Valley for the very first time, while retaining Exminster and Haldon and winning Bovey Rural.

Newton Abbot MP Martin Wrigley, who is a Liberal Democrat, said he was pleased that his party had increased the number of Teignbridge seats on Devon County Council from four to five.

‘It was very sad to see the loss of Ipplepen and the Kerswells’ MP Wrigley said.

‘But I am delighted that we retained Dawlish and Teignmouth and that we gained Chudleigh for the first time’ MP Wrigley added.

Reform UK won four of the ten Teignbridge wards in the elections, with the Lib Dems taking five and the Conservatives just one.