A newly elected Conservative mayor has said he was "shocked" to have beaten the previous Liberal Democrat candidate by 145 votes.
Tom Wootton was declared the new Bedford Borough Mayor late on Friday.
He ousted Dave Hodgson, who had been in the role for more than 13 years.
Mr Wootton said: "One can't get away from the national picture - we're just so happy that Bedford has done its traditional thing and bucked the trend.
Mr Wootton added: "I'm absolutely shocked, just unbelievably emotional, it's just a wonderful thing.
"We've got a lot to do, I'm just so looking forward to getting to work next week.
"We have a fantastic team of councillors brimming with abilities that haven't been used.
"We've been out of power in Bedford Borough for at least 14 years and we've never had a Conservative leader so it's just the most wonderful thing."
He said his job was to be "for everybody" and the "whole borough".
Mr Wootton added: "I'm absolutely shocked, just unbelievably emotional, it's just a wonderful thing.
"We've got a lot to do, I'm just so looking forward to getting to work next week.
"We have a fantastic team of councillors brimming with abilities that haven't been used.
"We've been out of power in Bedford Borough for at least 14 years and we've never had a Conservative leader so it's just the most wonderful thing."
He said his job was to be "for everybody" and the "whole borough".
Article written by the BBC can be found in this link Conservatives take Bedford mayor from Lib Dems
