THE former leader of the Liberal Democrats in Hertsmere said the party would live on to fight another day following defeat in the local elections.

Conservative councillors grabbed two seats from the party and Roger Kutchinsky, who chose to stand in Bushey Heath, rather than his previous ward Bushey North, failed to depose incumbent Paul Morris (Con) - coming a disappointing third.

It leaves the council chambers with no Lib Dem representative for the first time in the borough's history.

Mr Kutchinsky said: “The people have spoken. I'm pretty sure there were a number of Lib Dem voters who were less inclined to vote for us because of the coalition. Nonetheless, that is the situation and there is nothing I can do at national level.

“It is sad there is no presence on the council, but we are not extinct. We will be building from a lower base.

“We never had power, but used our influence to push the council to make a cleaner, greener and fairer place. And we will continue to do so, but no longer from inside the council chambers.”

Asked why the party had not put forward candidates for a number of wards in Borehamwood and Elstree, Mr Kutchinsky said: “I would have loved it if we contested all 13 seats, but we were only able to find nine people to stand.”

The former councillor said there had been a lack of members in these wards and it had been difficult to gauge potential support.

The Bushey pensioner added: “Naturally, I'm sad to lose my seat, but I'm going to get it back. We're not going to cease to exist, but it will be hard.”

Mr Kutchinsky, who has served for four years, said he had been proud of his involvement with the setting up of a “efficient, simple and effective” financial monitoring system at the council.

And he was also pleased with work contributed toward the Bushey CPZ and securing money for volunteers at the award-winning open space Fishers Field Nature Reserve, in Bushey.

Mr Kutchinsky will say goodbye to former colleagues and welcome new councillors at the first full council meeting since the election, on Wednesday, May 18.