The Liberal Democrats retained control of Eastbourne but saw their majority cut to just one seat as the Tories capitalised on this year's council tax rise.

Having lost a seat to Tory Ian Lucas, the balance of power is now on a knife edge.

Before last night, the party had held 15 seats and the Tories 12. But with a Tory gain and a Lib Dem loss, the make-up is now 14 to 13 in favour of the Lib Dems.

Tories had played on the 38 per cent council tax rise, the fourth highest in England and had considered Eastbourne a top target after they were ousted in a shock result last year.

Lib Dem leader Beryl Healey said: "We knew that with a 38 per cent increase in council tax we were fighting to stay in but despite that we still retained the council."

Across the rest of East Sussex, however, the Tories enjoyed a good night against their main rivals.

Many rural results are being declared today in seats for sprawling Rother District Council.

But Tories kept their grip on sedate Bexhill, winning 13 of the 18 seats declared overnight.

Two Labour, two Lib Dem and one independent councillor were the only ones to brak the Conservative monopoly.

In Wealden, Tories comfortably retained control of the district council with a majorty of 13 seats.

They won 34 seats and the Lib Dems won 15 while another six went to independents.

Lib Dems failed to make the breakthrough they wanted and leader Eddie Rice lost his seat in Rotherfield.

Labour failed to win seats despite high hopes in Uckfield but independents caused shocks, especially in Polegate where they won a Lib Dem stronghold.

Elsewhere in Sussex, Labour lost control of Brighton and Hove and the Tories lost their grip on Horsham.

The Green Party had a resoundingly successful night in Brighton and Hove, doubling its showing from three seats to six.

The balance of power remained unclear in Brighton and Hove this morning.

Labour is likely to form a minority administration - it has 24 seats, the Tories 20, the Lib Dems three, Greens six and independents one.

Council leader Ken Bodfish said: "This is not the result we wanted but it is also not the result some other people wanted. It is clear that Labour is still the largest party in this city."

But in a shock result in Horsham a strong Lib Dem challenge toppled the blues.

Council chairman John Wardropper Charles lost his seat on what is now a hung council.

Other well-known politicians left without a seat include former Brighton and Hove mayor Jenny Barnard-Langston (Lib Dem) and the city's long-time education councillor Frieda Warman-Brown.

The election in full: thisisbrightonandhove.co.uk/local_election/results.html