THERE were no surprises in Islwyn as Labour's Don Touhig held firmly on to the seat with a slightly increased majority.

Cheers echoed around Newbridge Leisure Centre when the result was announced, although there were only around two dozen people in the public gallery to witness the victory.

Mr Touhig polled 19,687 votes, with a majority of 15,740 - increasing both the number of votes and his majority on the 2001 general election.

Plaid Cymru polled in second place, the Liberal Democrats third and the Conservatives fourth - with fewer than 600 votes separating those three parties.

Mr Touhig, who has been MP for the area for ten years and was under secretary of state for Wales before Parliament was dissolved, greeted the announcement of his win by saying it was a "huge privilege" to represent the residents of Islwyn.

And he pledged to do his best for them during his coming term in office. Labour had delivered on its promises and the people had responded, he told the Argus afterwards.

"We want a third term because we want to do the job - not because we want to be in the Guinness Book of Records," he added.

"We have done very well - unemployment is at a record low and now we must continue to invest in education and give people the skills they need for jobs.

"I also welcome work on the new hospital, which is a £100 million project - we desperately need it in this borough."

He added that he would continue to try to improve the quality of life for pensioners - and keep responding to calls for help from people across the constituency.

During his campaign, Mr Touhig said he and his team had knocked on thousands of doors, in wind and rain, and they had received a "fantastic response" from local people.

Plaid Cymru candidate Jim Criddle, who improved the party's performance as they came in third in the last election, said: "What we wanted to do was come second and to increase our vote. "I hope Don continues to represent the constituency as well as he has done."

Lee Dillon (Lib Dem), was beaten into third place by 74 votes. "It was really close between the three of us so I can't be disappointed," he said.

"I will definitely stand again and hopefully we'll make more of an impression next time."

Conservative candidate Phillip Howells, who also stood in 2001, said he had increased his vote by around 30 per cent and was not disappointed.