Liberal Democrat Don Foster has crushed a Tory challenge to keep his Bath seat.

Mr Foster more than doubled his notional majority to snuff out Conservative Fabian Richter's hopes of an upset.

The 63-year-old's majority went up from a notional 5,578 in 2005 to 11,883, with his share of the vote rising by more than 11 per cent.

Mr Foster has now begun what is likely to be his last stint in the city he has held since 1992.

He was one of nine candidates in the seat, where boundary changes had disadvantaged the Conservatives, with key areas such as Bathford and Batheaston moved into the new North East Somerset seat.

Third was Labour's Hattie Ajderian with Green hopeful Eric Lucas fourth.

Mr Foster said he was 'truly humbled' to have been elected for a fifth time.

Speaking after the declaration was made at the city's Pavilion Mr Foster said he would work hard to help give people in the city what they wanted.

He said: "I have never taken this city or its people for granted. It is a huge privilege. Frankly I am truly humbled to have been re-elected, with such a large majority, to serve the people of Bath.

"I have said on four separate occasions that I would work as hard as I possibly could to serve all of the people, no matter how they vote, of this wonderful city and I say it again. That is my pledge."