Liberal Democrats to run council following win

Steve Jarvis will lead Hertfordshire County Council after the Lib Dems received the most votes in recent elections

The Liberal Democrat Party has taken over the leadership of a county council for the first time in the local authority's history.

Following elections on 1 May, the Conservative Party lost control of Hertfordshire County Council after 26 years in charge.

The Lib Dems won the most seats with 31 councillors, while the Tories won 22 – meaning no party gained the 40 seats required to have overall control.

Steve Jarvis, who has been elected as the new leader of the council, said: "Voters made it clear they want change - and that's what we'll deliver."

His party said it now had 32 councillors after a Labour councillor defected, leaving Labour with four councillors.

Reform UK came in third place in the election with 14 seats, while the Greens won five seats and one independent councillor was elected.

The Lib Dems have formed a minority administration rather than making a coalition with other parties.

The party said the focus would be on on highways, special educational needs and disability (SEND) provision in schools and the environment.

Jarvis said: "In the first 100 days we'll outline a 10-point plan of priority actions - to repair roads, make journeys safer, boost local transport, improve our environment, support those who most need our help and generate funding for front-line services.

"We've hit the ground running by announcing a trial scheme to get more potholes fixed each time crews visit an affected neighbourhood.

"We'll also bring together young people, parents, schools and teachers together for an in-depth SEND summit, to inform our plans to reform this vital service."

No party won overall control of Hertfordshire County Council