DORSET South is back in the hands of the Conservatives as Richard Drax trounced outgoing MP Jim Knight at the ballot box.

The result, one of the largest Tory swings in the country, left Mr Drax with a hefty 7,443 majority.

"I'd like to thank the electorate for giving me this huge responsibility and great honour," said Mr Drax to his family, friends and supporters.

He added: "There are many thousands of people in the constituency who did not vote for me, but can I assure you that I will work as hard as I can for you as I will for everybody else."

The turnout, of 68.2per cent, was slightly down on the 2005 election.

Mr Knight said: "So the employment minister is now unemployed.

"Thank you so much to the people of Dorset for the past nine years, I have loved it."

Speaking to Mr Drax, he added: "Richard, I know you know this area really well, but please look after it. These are brilliant people and they need all the support they can get."

Lib Dem candidate Ros Kayes said: "We fought a very successful campaign. Whatever happens in government in the next days or so, the British people are clearly asking for reform."

A host of senior figures, including Gordon Brown, had visited the constituency during a hard-fought campaign.

And while, at first, it seemed a two way fight for the title, the increasing popularity of the Lib Dems - spurred on by their leader's initial success in the first televised debate - saw significant support for local candidate Ros Kayes.

The other candidates never really threatened any upset, but there were widespread messages of support for UKIP candidate Nigel Farage, who was injured in a light aircraft crash yesterday.