THE Liberal Democrats stormed to victory in a historic set of council elections.

The party won 36 seats on the new Westmorland and Furness Council as a new chapter was written in the political history of the county.

Candidates described the cost of living crisis and frustration with the Government as issues that dominated on the doorsteps of Barrow, South Lakeland and Eden.

The Lib Dems will rule with a majority of seven when the new council comes into being properly in 2023.

Until then, newly-elected members will serve on a shadow authority, aiding the transition to a new system of local government.

Seven Cumbrian councils have been merged into two, with new unitary authorities to serve east and west.

The Lib Dems' decisive victory in South Lakeland tipped the balance with most of the party's seats coming from the area.

The party also managed to beat the Conservatives in Eden, while Labour dominated as expected in Barrow.

For the Conservatives, the day was perhaps not as bad as first feared after the county woke up to a shock Labour landslide in Cumberland. 

But some party figures felt voters were telling the Government more needed to be done to help with the rising cost of living.

Simon Fell, the Conservative MP for Barrow and Furness, said: "It's been a really mixed picture across the county. 

 "There's a lot of apathy, some people think we're 'all as bad as each other'.

"I suspect that's reflected in the low turnout.

"There's been a lot of pushback on the cost of living and there's been a bit of 'partygate'."

He said it was important 'better economic decisions' were made by the new administration.

Overall, Labour took 15 seats ahead of the Conservatives' 11.

Two independent councillors will sit on the new council, as well as one Green councillor, Ulverston's Judy Filmore.

Chris Altree, the chair of the Barrow and Furness Labour Party, had hoped his party would be the 'kingmakers' in a possible coalition with the Lib Dems. 

"People are very angry with Boris Johnson," he said.

But it will be the Lib Dems who will take charge for four years from April 2023.

Westmorland and Furness Joint Committee will meet in Kendal on Monday.