CLAIRE Perry has held Devizes for the Conservative Party with a similar majority to that of her predecessor, Michael Ancram.

She took the seat, held by Mr Ancram since 1992, with 25,519 votes, just over 13,000 more than her nearest rival, Liberal Democrat Fiona Hornby who got 12,514.

Labour candidate Junab Ali, the Swindon councillor, came third with 4,711, Pat Bryant of UKIP polled 2,076, Mark Fletcher of the Green Party 813, independent Martin Houlden 566, and Nic Coome of the Libertarian Party 141.

In her acceptance speech, Ms Perry paid tribute to Mr Ancram. She said: "His footsteps will be very hard to follow. From tomorrow I will start to fight to get back our services.

"As Margaret Thatcher said, pennies don't fall from heaven, they have to be earned from the ground."

In an interview after the result, Ms Perry said her number one priority was health services. She said: "It is a disgrace there is no minor injuries unit in the constituency. If you have a bleeding child on your hands you don't want to have to get in the car and drive for miles.

"I want to support local businesses. So many people around here have lost their jobs. And I want to do even more for military families."

Ms Perry said she is to run regular surgeries in Bulford and Tidworth for the military families in the area. Indeed, surgeries for constituents to speak to her about their problems will be a core part of her strategy.

She said she was thrilled to have maintained the Tory majority in the constituency. She said: "I had no expectations. People are fed up with politics and politicians. I am also delighted that Devizes was the first constituency in Wiltshire to declare, considering the size of the place."

Result: Claire Perry Conservative 25,519 Fiona Hornby Liberal Democrat 12,514 Junab Ali Labour 4,711 Pat Bryant UKIP 2,076 Mark Fletcher Green Party 813 Martin Houlden Independent 566 Nic Coome Libertarian 141 Majority 13,005 Turnout 46,402 (68.87 per cent)