LIBERAL DEMOCRAT leader Nick Clegg arrived in St Albans this morning to celebrate the party's triumph in last night's local elections.

The district's victorious Lib Dems turned out in their droves this morning to raise a glass of bubbly after taking a strong hold of St Albans District Council.

And joining them in their toast was the euphoric Lib Dem leader who saluted his party's performance, insisting it did 'exceptionally well'.

He said: "It is a very strong result.

"We have increased the number of councillors when I was being told for the last several weeks that we were almost certainly going to lose councillors.

"We have outpolled Labour for only the second time in our party's history, and crucially we have been winning against both Labour and the Conservatives."