THE new MPs in Preston and South Ribble are a mix of Labour and Conservatives.

Labour's Mark Hendrick was elected for Preston, and fellow Labour David Borrow was re-elected for South Ribble.

The Ribble Valley, which covers Fulwood, is represented by Nigel Evans, and Michael Jack was re-elected for the Fylde, including Broughton, Cottam, Ingol, Lea, Tanterton, Catforth and Woodplumpton. Nigel Evans and Michael Jack are the county's only two Conservative MPs.

MARK Hendrick was successfully re-elected as MP for Preston. He secured the seat with a landslide victory of 20,540 votes from an overall turnout of 48.7 per cent. Conservative contender Graham O'Hare secured 8,272 votes while Bill Chadwick, the Liberal Democrat candidate, received 4,746 votes.

Mr Hendrick first became MP for Preston after last year's by-election following the death of long-standing Labour MP Audrey Wise.

In his victory speech Mr Hendrick said he was proud of what the Labour Government had achieved for Preston. He added: "Preston is a town with a great future and a town that I am proud to represent. Labour will serve and be on your side."

LABOUR retained their seat in South Ribble with a 3,802 majority after a 68 per cent turnout.

David Borrow was returned to Parliament with 21,386 votes in one of the key marginal seats in the North West. Conservative candidate Adrian Owens gained 17,584 votes while Farington councillor and Liberal Democrat candidate Mark Alcock received 7,150.

The win was a huge relief for Mr Borrow as many had predicted that the seat could have fallen back to the Conservatives who had held the seat since the constituency was created in 1983 and until the last general election in 1997.

Mr Borrow joined the Labour Party in 1969. As a local man he has lived in Preston since 1975 where he was the council leader before being elected to Parliament.

In his victory speech he felt he had now arrived as an MP. He said: "When I was elected the last time people told me that you don't feel like a real MP until you get elected for a second term. I feel that very strongly now."

He added: "I am very proud tonight and look forward to serving South Ribble again."

FYLDE MP Michael Jack, whose constituency covers the northwest of Preston, increased his majority in last week's General Election.

Mr Jack won nearly 10,000 votes more than his nearest rival, Labour candidate John Stockton, who received 13,773 votes. The turnout was 61 per cent, a drop of 15 per cent on the last General Election.

Mr Jack said he was looking forward to representing the constituency for another term and intends to fight for local matters including extra resources at INTAG -- the Ingol and Tanterton Action Group, in Village Green Lane, Ingol. He said: "I helped to build up the INTAG resources and I hope to build on that. People know me as an MP who works hard for them."