CONSERVATIVE MP Eleanor Laing has increased her majority in Epping Forest as she was returned to parliament for the fourth time.

All eyes where on Mrs Laing at the count, held in the village hall at her adopted home of Theydon Bois, after a difficult year for the MP who had had become embroiled in expenses issues.

But Mrs Laing shrugged aside her critics, many of whom had predicted an unusually close competition in the safe Conservative seat, to return 25,148 votes, a majority of 15,131 up from 14,358 in 2005.

Speaking after her victory Mrs Laing said she was “absolutely delighted” with her increased majority and hoped her victory would draw a line under the accusation she had “flipped” her second home to avoid capital gains tax.

She said: “There are some prominent people in Epping Forest who said in the current political atmosphere I would have a massively reduced majority and would just hold on. They were wrong.

“I've been upset for the last year about the lies that have been told about me and I'm very pleased that the majority of people in Epping Forest have the sense not to rely on that misinformation.

“I'm absolutely delighted that the people of Epping Forest have put their confidence in me to continue to represent them as their MP.”

Liberal Democrat candidate Ann Haigh, saw her party move from third place to second, with a vote increase from 8,279 to 10,017.

She said: “I'm pleased the Liberal Democrats are recognised as the second party and we can build on that. I'd like to thank all the people who voted for me and for the increase that came with that. I think that is recognition that our policies were good and fair.”

Labour's vote, under first time candidate Katie Curtis fell by nearly 3,000 votes to 6,641.