LABOUR'S Luciana Berger overwhelmingly crushed the Liberal Democrats in the key seat of Liverpool Wavertree increasing the party's majority by 2,000.

She shattered her rival Colin Eldridge's dream of becoming the first Lib-Dem MP in Liverpool in 13 years, as he polled less votes than in 2005.

The seat had been the Lib-Dems’ number one target in the North West and had been tipped as the only city parliamentary seat where Labour's stranglehold on parliamentary seats would be challenged.

Mr Eldridge was the bookies’ favourite, but Miss Berger's majority is 19% or 7,167 – more than double the 3,000 notional majority the party started the election with.

Miss Berger received 20,132 votes – almost 2,000 more than the outgoing Labour MP Jane Kennedy received in 2005.

Mr Eldridge polled just 12,965, compared to 13,268 at the last general election.

Miss Berger said: "I am absolutely delighted. I feel overwhelmed if not slightly surprised (by the level of the win).

"It's been a very hard fought campaign, but the good people of Liverpool Wavertree had a choice and they made their decision to put their trust in Labour and their trust in me.

"I am humbled by the honour of representing the constituency."

She paid tribute to her campaign team of around 100 and to "every single person" who voted for her.