Local elections usually attract a lower turnout than general elections but the addition of the AV referendum seemed to bring more people than normal to the polling stations last Thursday.

There was plenty of media interest nationally as pollsters tried to predict the effect the coalition has had on the Liberal Democrats and how many seats the Conservatives might lose.

Ross bucked the national trend by electing more Lib Dem Councillors than there were for the previous Council and the Conservative maintained their control of Hereford maintained

Local elections are more important than ever before, as Eric Pickles and the Department for Communities and Local Government hand over more power to councils in the localism bill which will, if passed, mean more local responsibility for planning, affordable housing and more.

Because of the votes for parish and council elections as well as the AV referendum counting seemed to last longer than usual. New Councillor Andrew Atkinson told the Ross Gazette: "I was up at 6am to be at the polling station when it opened and I did not get home until 9am the following day, it was exhausting but exhilarating."