Tory Paul Goodman has emerged as hot favourite to hold on to his Wycombe seat. Counting only began just after 1am but Mr Goodman's Labour and Lib Dem opponents have already appeared to have conceded defeat.

Early indications showed that the Tory, aged 45, would win with an increased majority in the seat that he captured four years ago.

The former Daily Telegraph journalist said "I am convinced I will win, the reason for that is how ever much people look at the individual standing, the result reflects what is happening nationally"

If Mr Goodman wins it will be a huge blow to Labour's Julia Wassell who at one stage seemed in with a good chance of reversing Mr Goodman's slender majority which was just over 3,000 in 2001.

She said "I expect the Tory majority to double, it is something I have been feeling for several weeks."

Miss Wassell said voters were upset about the Labour Government going to war in Iraq she added "The Iraq war was one of the Labour Party's major mistakes,now it is a political mistake."

Counting was delayed because the County Council votes had to be separated from the parliamentary votes.

It took three hours just to get going in Wycombe compared to the 45 minutes it took Sunderland to complete their count earlier in the evening.