In addition to the increase in UKIP votes, the Green party has also won more votes across the south.

They came third on the Isle of Wight, with 9,404 votes, an increase of 12% on last time.

In other constituencies, they increased their share of the vote by a few percentage points.

Ed Vaizey said he was "thrilled" to hold on to his Wantage seat.

Image source, Getty Images

"I'm very, very pleased with the Conservative result. It's absolutely tremendous."

But he expressed sadness at the fates of some of his coalition colleagues, calling Vince Cable a "great Secretary of State".

"There were some big beasts," he continued. "People like Ed Davey, who's name is close to mine so a few people thought I'd lost my seat for a while when he lost."

We're getting the first of the local council elections results coming through now.

Conservatives have retained control of Havant Borough Council, external, winning all of the 10 seats that were contested.

We'll keep you updated as more results come in from across the region.

Andrew Turner, who was re-elected as Conservative MP for the Isle of Wight, said: "Islanders don't want a Labour party in thrall to the Scottish nationalists but we do want a referendum on our relationship with the EU.

"Let's hope the rest of the country shows the good judgement and sound commonsense that is the trademark of islanders."

Rob Wilson has already set out what he wants to achieve in the next parliament after his re-election in Reading East.

Image source, Philip Halling

The Tory said: "I will be fighting for the third Thames Bridge as a priority. We've made good progress on it, but we know need to make sure we are able to deliver it."

Journalism students at Bournemouth University have been covering the general election on Twitter, external and social media.

Have a look at their coverage and some lovely photos, external from election night.

Helen Catt
Political reporter, BBC Radio Oxford

This is reflecting in miniature the national picture we're seeing of the collapse of the Lib Dems.

In the last election they were second in most seats in Oxfordshire. This time around that's completely fallen away and they polled almost 50,000 fewer votes.

If you look at Banbury, for example, their vote has fallen by 14.5%. That's a pretty huge drop.

Paul Clifton
Transport correspondent, BBC South Today

George Hollingbery won the last seat in the South to declare, retaining Meon Valley for the Conservatives.

This tractor was spotted by Claire Harries - and was even playing music - on Long Street in Sherborne this morning.

Image source, Claire Harries

(Rather grainy) footage of David Cameron has emerged of him giving a speech at the Conservative Campaign HQ: "This is the sweetest victory of them all."

Image source, The Spectator

"The public got it wrong, the pollsters got it wrong, the commentators got it wrong, but the real reason we should be celebrating tonight is we have the opportunity to serve our country again."

BBC Berkshire's political reporter Patrick O'Hagan tweets, external: Talking to someone at Reading elex count who went to school with Nicola Sturgeon. Remembers her for her multi-coloured mullet hairdo

BBC Oxford's Ross Heaton tweets, external: District council candidates wait for counting to start in Witney whilst clean up continues around them

James Ingham
BBC South Today

"To those who say he has had his day were proved wrong, external on the Isle of Wight. Andrew Turner won by a convincing majority.

"UKIP's candidate was always confident he could win but they only got half the number of votes as the Tories.

"The big shock was Lib Dems coming in fifth place and the Greens beating Labour to third."

Every MP in Oxfordshire increased their party's majority in this year's election.

In Oxford East, Labour's Andrew Smith increased his party's share of the vote by 10,699.

The Conservatives increased theirs in Witney, Henley, Oxford West and Abingdon, Wantage and Banbury.

Oliver Letwin has been talking to the Dorset Echo, external after he was re-elected in West Dorset.

He said: "We have actually seen what is clearly going to be the return of a Conservative government under David Cameron to continue to rebuild this country and to provide a secure and better future for its people."

Ben Moore
Reporter, BBC South Today

"All done and dusted. Incredible night and a privilege to work on it for the BBC. Hopefully back in 5 years. #GE2015, external"

Gerald Vernon-Jackson said after he lost out in Portsmouth South to Conservative Flick Drummond: "Of course I am disappointed. It has been a very poor night for the Lib Dems around the country."

When asked what lost it for him, he said "going in to coalition with the Tories" which had caused "enormous political harm".

BBC Oxford reporter Martin Eastaugh tweets, external: Scamper the Hamster with @edvaizey and his daughter Martha #GE2015

Jessica Parker
Political reporter, BBC Hampshire and IoW

"It might have been that people didn't want to admit to voting Tory which led to the exit polls being misleading."

Nicola Blackwood has told BBC Radio Oxford that she was "overwhelmed" by the scale of her victory.

She said: "I came into the count rather nervous; it's been a really hard fought [contest] and with the polls as close as they were I was not expecting anything like this increase."

She won with a majority of almost 10,000 votes.