A PAUL Keetch hat-trick won Hereford for the Liberal Democrats with a more comfortable margin than pollsters predicted.

Mr Keetch saw his 968 majority from 2001 drop by just two votes as he pulled away from second time Tory challenger Virginia Taylor after a count at Hereford Leisure Centre that at one stage had them had them neck and neck.

Mrs Taylor's anguish at the end was obvious. Her supporters had been buoyed by a strong campaign and early indications of their candidate being ahead.

As the Keetch vote began to edge out in front talk of Tory win - or even a recount - receded.

By 3am it was over. After a brief huddle grim-faced Tories were ready to concede.

The Lib Dem camp was jubilant after a nervy night. This once true-blue bastion their man stormed in 1997 was now resolutely their own.

Mr Keetch made the point in a winner's speech inspired as much by relief as victory.

Since the campaign proper began he had heard that his hold on Hereford was tenuous. Even on the night TV pundits were saying that one of the country's most marginal constituencies would slip from his grasp.

Mrs Taylor tried to rouse her crestfallen followers with a we'll be back rallying cry, they offered her generous applause in return - but their was no disguising their frustration at being thwarted again.

Labour lost nearly 2,000 votes on their 2001 showing, while the Greens came away with a respectable 1,052 just ahead of UKIP on 1,030.

Independent candidate Peter Morton pulled in 404 votes and thanked his campaign team - his wife Sally.

HEREFORD - FINAL RESULT

PAUL KEETCH (Lib Dem) 20,285.

VIRGINIA TAYLOR (Con) 19,323

TOM CALVER (Lab) 4,800

BRIAN LUNT (Green) 1,052)

CHRISTOPHER KINGSLEY (UKIP) 1,030

PETER MORTON (Ind) 404.

WIN FOR PAUL KEETCH, LIB DEM HOLD.

MAJORITY: 962