By SARA NELSON and ROBERT FISK

CONSERVATIVES swept the board at the council elections, increasing their stranglehold with a majority not seen since 1982.

The party took six seats from the Liberal Democrats, two from Labour and routed Independent Councillor Rod Reed from his Kelsey and Eden Park seat.

They now have a majority of 49 councillors, who won on a mixture of the Building a Better Bromley strategy and what they labelled "the Cameron effect".

Conservative councillor for Hayes and Coney Hall Neil Reddin said: "Today and tomorrow and indeed yesterday there were blue skies over Bromley.

"We feel it's well deserved and we are not going to let the people of Bromley down."

The loudest cheers of the night came with the news the former Liberal Democrat stronghold Biggin Hill had fallen to the Tories.

Former Biggin Hill councillor Geoff Gostt believes their victory is partly due to the Conservatives' election promise of a new leisure centre or swimming pool in the ward and the backing of local MP John Horam.

After new councillors Gordon Norrie and Julian Benington were announced as the winners, Mr Gostt said: "I hope they will honour the promises they have made, particularly those about leisure facilities."

While the majority of successful candidates graciously thanked the opposition, a war of words broke out between the Conservative and Liberal Democrats for the Chelsfield and Pratts Bottom ward.

Cllr Julian Grainger told the crowd there was "no question of congratulating his opponents" adding "the results speak for themselves".

Grace Goodlad, who lost her seat, responded with: "Tory lies won, it is a disgrace. They have lied consistently about council taxes. They are contemptible."

Former Independent Kelsey and Eden Park councillor Rod Reed thinks the election result is a dark day for Bromley.

He said: "The people of Bromley have lost a wealth of council experience like Gostt and Holbrook because people have voted on party lines and not for the people."

Bromley Labour Party leader John Holbrook bowed out of the council after serving for 20 years when he lost his Cray Valley West seat.

But the party managed to keep hold of the Penge and Cator ward.

Labour ward councillor John Getgood said: "This was a close victory for us but one which we well deserved because we were the only party which focused on local issues and what matters to the people."

Speaking about the Conservative victory, Shortlands ward councillor George Taylor said: "In my opinion the surge in Bromley, which I believe is being reproduced across the country, is a result of the Cameron effect, which focused people's minds on the environment."

Conservative Party leader Councillor Stephen Carr added: "It appears to be a fabulous day.

"All our council gains at the expense of Liberal Democrats and Labour speak volumes.

"People have come out to support their local Conservative Party and not to go against the Government.

"We are absolutely committed to taking the Building a Better Bromley project forward and making Bromley even better."