The Conservatives look set to be the biggest party this morning with an increased number of seats, after a dramatic election night which saw the Lb Dems all but wiped out.

Exit polls as voting closed last night gave the Tories an unexpected 76 seat lead over Labour, with the Lib Dems reduced to 10 and the SNP taking a clean sweep in Scotland.

At 5.45am, the forecasts had the Conservatives on 325 seats, enough for an outright majority. 

In Bournemouth East and West, Conor Burns and Tobias Ellwood held their seats with an increased majority, with UKIP polling second in both constituencies and the Lib Dems dropping 10,000 votes in each. Read what Tobias had to say here and what Conor had to say here 

Bournemouth Echo:

In Christchurch, UKIP's Robin Grey, who had been bullish about his chances at the start of the night, chose not to speak to reporters after Chris Chope retained the seat for the Tories, again with an increased majority. Read more about that count here.

Bournemouth Echo:

In Poole Robert Syms increased his majority (more here) and in Mid Dorset Michael Tomlinson took the seat from the Lib Dems (more here). South and West Dorset were "landslide" victories for Richard Drax (more here) and Oliver Letwin. (more here)

Bournemouth Echo:

In North Dorset, Witney councillor Simon Hoare took more than 30,000 votes to win with a 21,000 majority. 

Desmond Swayne easily held New Forest West ahead of second placed UKIP. More here

Pictures from the night

The Liberal Democrats look set to hold just 10 seats by the time all the results are in, with Philips Eades, in Poole, telling the Echo the electorate "are punishing us for decisions taken in coalition."

Nick Clegg kept his seat but hinted that he might stand down as leader of the party. Vince Cable, Esther McVey, and Danny Alexander, Douglas Alexander and Ed Balls are among the big names from all parties who find themselves out of a job this morning.

Bournemouth Echo: READY FOR THE FUTURE: Labour's Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls

The SNP didn’t quite win all of Scotland’s seats  but it was enough for Alex Salmond to say ''There's going to be a lion roaring tonight, a Scottish lion, and it's going to roar with a voice that no government of whatever political complexion is going to be able to ignore.

''I think it's going to be a resounding voice, a clear voice, a united voice from Scotland, and I think that is a very good thing.''

He said there was an ''electoral tsunami'' in Scotland and told ITV that if the exit polls were correct, ''it certainly leaves David Cameron, if that were the case, with no legitimacy whatsoever up in Scotland".