Cornwall was bluewashed in last week's General Election as the Conservative steamroller flattened its opposition in every constituency in the county.

A golden heart-land of Liberal Democrat support was wiped out with Helston's MP Andrew George losing his seat after 18 years of service, while Falmouth's Sarah Newton increased her majority.

It was a long night for many, as vote counting for the Duchy's three most westerly seats - Camborne and Redruth, St Ives, and Truro and Falmouth - began at Carn Brea leisure centre at around 1.30am, and the first results were not declared until 5am.

The first win of the day went to George Eustice, the incumbent Conservative candidate for Camborne and Redruth, whose 18,452 votes beat his nearest rival, Labour's Michael Foster, by around 7,000.

Bob Smith of UKIP was third, knocking Liberal Democrat Julia Goldsworthy into fourth place, followed by Geoff Garbett of the Green Party and Loveday Jenkin of Mebyon Kernow.

Mr Eustice, who earlier in the evening had appeared confident of increasing the "slender" 66 vote lead he gained in the 2010 election, thanked everyone who put their confidence in him for a second term.

He said that in his last term he tried to prioritise economic regeneration, bring investment into the area, and attract new industries and better paid jobs, but there is much more to do, and added: "I am mindful that this is a three-way marginal, and there are many people who didn't vote for me tonight, and I want to represent them as much as those who have voted for me."

The next seat to fall was Truro and Falmouth, where Conservative Sarah Newton won a 14,000 vote majority over nearest rival Simon Rix of the Liberal Democrats, with 22,681 to 8,681, with Labour's Stuart Roden on 7,841.

UKIP's John Hyslop and Green candidate Karen Westbrook were fourth and fifth respectively, while Truro mayor and independent candidate Loic Rich, Mebyon Kernow's Stephen Richardson, NHA Party candidate Rik Evans and Stanley Guffogg of the Principles of Politics Party all lost their deposits by polling less than five per cent.

Mrs Newton said: "I didn't expect to win by that much. It's come as a real surprise."

She said the Conservatives had "managed to halve the number of people in jobcentres" but that wages in Cornwall were still below the national average, and she would focus on bringing skilled jobs to the county to raise wages, as well as improving the county's transport links.

She added that the prospect of a Conservative majority government was "very exciting indeed", as the party would be able to carry on delivering the plan it had started five years ago and "get the job done."

Mr Rix said it had been a "punishing night" but he was "delighted that we're still in second place."

He said: "We will dust ourselves down and fight another day," and added "we've got a great base to fight the next election."

Mr Roden said the party had grown it's support both in Falmouth and Camborne, and that although it had failed to win parliamentary seats it had gained "some ten seats" in local council elections, and possibly gained control of Cornwall Council.

The final result brought sad news for Andrew George, as the Liberal Democrat candidate ended an 18 year stint as MP for St Ives to Conservative candidate Derek Thomas.

Helston raised Mr George, who had been able to participate in Flora Day before the announcement at 3.30pm, collected 16,022 votes to Mr Thomas' 18,491, with UKIP's Graham Calderwood third, followed by Cornelius Olivier of Labour, Green candidate Tim Andrewes, and Rob Simmons of Mebyon Kernow.

Given the opportunity to make a farewell speech by Cornwall Council chairman and returning officer Andrew Kerr, Mr George vowed to continue projects he had started while in office, and added: "I'm going to continue fighting for this area."

He said the Conservatives had successfully shifted the blame for the problems of the coalition to the Liberal Democrats, who had been washed away by a "tsunami" at the election.

Mr Thomas promised to work hard for all his constituents, and said that the "bluewash" of the south west means MPs in the region can cooperate to provide better transport, communications and employment opportunities for the area.