FORMER Ceredigion County Council leader Keith Evans has regained the seat he sensationally lost five years ago.

Mr Evans’ six-year reign as the Independent leader came to an end in 2012 when he lost Llandysul, a seat he had held for 27 years, to Plaid Cymru’s Peter Evans.

Back then Keith Evans received 271 votes to Peter Evans’ 373.

Yesterday they went head-to-head again and this time it was Keith who came out on top, receiving 407 votes to Peter’s 236.

Speaking to the Cambrian News, Mr Evans said it was his intention to re-energise the “forgotten town of Ceredigion”.

“It’s a lovely feeling to come back after five years and now there’s lots of work to do. We have lost a huge amount of services in Llandysul and we’ve been hard done by. It’s the forgotten town of Ceredigion and that saddens me. It was my prime reason for standing again," he said.

“People have been very supportive and it is my intention, with the traders, to see what can be done to re-energise the high street.”

Most recent leader, Ellen ap Gwynn, retained her Ceulanamaesmawr seat with 452 votes to Independent candidate John Dilwyn Lewis’ 368.

The Plaid candidate said her party was waiting anxiously for the results to come in but expected to form another coalition.

“It’s been swings and roundabouts so far,” she said, “and my own ward has been a harder fight than anticipated. I’ve been leader for five years and we’ve faced cuts of £34 million which means people are not pleased, but things look good going forward and I think we will probably gain one seat overall.

“We’ve worked in a coalition for five years and it looks like we will again but we are on tenterhooks as there is another poll to come.”

That poll is for Llandyfriog which has been postponed following the death of Lib Dem candidate Neil Flower.

A minute’s silence was held at the start of the count for Mr Flower, who died on 26 April.

The overall results are: Plaid Cymru, 19 seats; Independents, 13; Liberal Democrats, 8; Labour, 1; and one vacant seat to be decided on 8 June. The turnout was 53 per cent.

For the full list of election results, click here