PRESELI Pembrokeshire began a new political era just before 4am on Friday when Conservative Stephen Crabb emerged victorious from a nail-biting General Election contest.

Stephen now becomes one of three new Welsh Tory MPs in the House of Commons. There was jubilation from supporters who had backed the 32-year-old marketing consultant.

But there was bitter disappointment for Labour, who saw Sue Hayman beaten by 607 votes.

She had been selected from an all-women shortlist as successor to sitting MP Jackie Lawrence.

But Sue Hayman faced formidable opposition from Stephen Crabb, who had reduced Jackie Lawrence's majority to 2,946 at the 2001 election.

In a cliffhanger count, there was no clear indication who would win until the very last minute. Labour then called for a partial recount of the ballot bundles.

Afterwards, Stephen indicated that his local roots had played a part in his success.

"A lot of people gave me their vote not for the colour of my rosette, but for the fact that I am local and they wanted to give me a shot at the job. I will be working very hard to demonstrate that I have earned their votes.

"It is an excellent result for the Welsh Conservatives and it will help re-establish the Welsh Conservative presence in Westminster, which is vital," he said.

Sue Hayman said: "We are clearly disappointed not to win. It seemed the key issues were dentistry, housing and education."

Asked if she thought voters may have been put off because she comes from outside the area, she said: "It didn't seem that way on the doorstep. People were very welcoming."

Liberal Democrat Dewi Smith was delighted with third place, beating Plaid Cymru's Matt Mathias.

In a last-minute hustings at Pembrokeshire College, he had proved himself the star speaker, impressing first-time voters.

But Sue Hayman gained a black mark from organisers and the audience for not turning up and for 'being impossible to get hold of'.

THE counts for the Preseli Pembrokeshire and Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire seats were held this year for the first time at Cedar Court, Haven's Head Business Park, Milford Haven.

The Park has been developed by Quayside Estates, the property arm of the Milford Docks Company.

Where the votes went: Stephen Crabb (Conservative) - 14,106. Sue Hayman (Labour) - 13,499. Dewi Smith (Liberal Democrat) - 4,963. Matt Mathias (Plaid Cymru)- 4,752. James Carver (UK Independence Party) - 498. Molly Scott Cato (Green Party) - 494. Patricia Bowen (Socialist Labour) - 275. Conservative majority - 607. Swing 4.79%, Labour to Conservative.

AS Labour's Nick Ainger prepares to head back up the M4 to represent Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire in Westminster for a fourth successive term, the victorious MP promised to continue serving the constituency to the best of his ability as he has done over the past 13 years.

The 55-year-old politician, who beat Conservative David Morris by a mere 1,910 votes in what was a close-run election, confidently looked forward to the task ahead.

Mr Ainger told the Western Telegraph: "I think it is a really exciting time for south-west Wales. The economy is certainly on the up and we need to ensure that we get the benefits of that economic upturn for the local people."

He pledged to tackle the issue of housing for young families and the immediate problem of NHS dentistry.

"I will be having discussions shortly with Dr Brian Gibbons, the Assembly Health Minister, to see what radical action can be achieved to address this unacceptable situation locally," he added.

The Labour MP, who returned Pembrokeshire to Labour when he beat Tory candidate and Welsh Office Junior Minister Nicholas Bennett in 1992, said nationally investment would continue in public services, education, the health service and fighting crime.

Despite narrowly missing out on becoming an MP for the first time, the Conservative's David Morris vowed to fight on.

He said: "I am not one for looking back, but looking forward and I feel my future lies in this constituency. I would like to thank everybody who voted for me and convey the message that I won't let them down."

Where the votes went: Nick Ainger (Labour) - 13,953. David Morris (Conservative) - 12,043. John Dixon (Plaid Cymru) - 5,582. John Allen (Welsh Liberal Democrats) - 5,399. Jose MacDonald (UK Independence Party) - 545. Alex Daszak (Legalise Cannabis Alliance) - 237. Nick Turner (No party) - 104. Labour majority - 1,910. Swing 3.62%, Labour to Conservative.

THE turn-out in the Preseli Pembrokeshire constituency was 69% compared to 67.8% in 2001, and in Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire it was 67% compared to 65.3% at the last election.

AFTER his shock win in Ceredigion, Mark Williams was off to Cardiff to attend a Lib Dem parliamentary meeting.

"I should have been in the classroom taking the register," said the Brecon deputy headmaster.

But school is now a thing of the past since 39-year-old Mr Williams recaptured Ceredigion for the Liberals - 13 years after party stalwart Geraint Howells lost it to Plaid's Cynog Dafis.

Mr Williams beat Plaid's Simon Thomas - who had held Ceredigion for the past five years - by a slender 200-plus votes.