�������t¶��

However, he managed to complete the marathon virtually in just under 10 hours near his home in Chesham, Buckinghamshire, with the help of his sons.

In the East of England, the Conservatives also lost control of Hertfordshire County Council and the unitary Buckinghamshire Council, but they did win the mayoral contest in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, which was won by Labour last time round.

The Lib Dems reckon with a good night they might control more councils than the Tories this time next week – whether it's Oxfordshire or Wiltshire, Buckinghamshire or other parts of the South West.

Mr Davies, co-owner of HCS Furniture in Buckinghamshire, said it had been a "long time coming" but he and his business partner were "very excited" to be collecting the van - however, he is unsure what condition its battery will be in.

But Thames Valley Police - the local force for Buckinghamshire - says it has seen an 8% reduction in knife crime over the past year.