'If pigs could fly' might be a phrase that comes to mind when people suggest the idea that a Conservative candidate could win a seat in traditional mining towns such as Cowdenbeath and Kelty.

However, that phrase has been firmly put in the past after a historic win for the Tories in ward seven.

Darren Watt managed to knock out the SNP's Ann Bain with 1,013 votes, while Labour came out on top winning two seats for the ward, with first place Alex Campbell and third place Gary Guichan.

The SNP's Councillor Alistair Bain came second picking up 1,030 votes. Voter turn out was 40.8%, up over 5% from elections in 2012.

The ward has brand new boundaries and with the change-over to two wards being represented on the Cowdenbeath Area Committee through the deletion of the Lochs, it was guaranteed that at least one new member would be representing this seat.

The man making history, Councillor Darren Watt, told the Press: "I am absolutely delighted. First preferences prove that I had over 1000 people supporting me, from an area that has lots of different towns that have various objectives and needs.

"The fact that the seats are split between the parties will only mean that the people of Fife will benefit. It was clear that people are interested in national issues as well as local and as a party we have that balance.

"People do not want a second referendum and what has happened in the last 10/20 years is simply not good enough. People may have always voted for Labour because they're dad's did but now that's changing.

"Previously the council have just thrown money at the problems instead of asking locals if that is what they really want. People are ultimately "politicized out", but after June 8 we should have four years of stability."

With the Tories winning 15 seats overall across Fife, it seems that locals had firmly in their mind the issues of another referendum and Brexit at the forefront of their minds.

But for the SNP's Ann Bain, who missed out on a seat, it seems that Labour strategies were the reason she believes the Conservatives won a seat.

"The Labour party were telling everyone to vote Conservative", she said. "There are plenty of rumours going around saying that. For a mining village to vote Tory...well it's just unheard of.

"The unionist parties are trying to stop the SNP getting in and they will both do anything to keep us out. I will carry on campaigning. I wanted to help people with local issues but I am in this for independence for Scotland."

Labour Councillor Alex Campbell managed to return a seat in the new ward with 2,065 votes, previously representing Benarty and Kingseat. Himself and colleague Councillor Gary Guichan said that there was a lot of disbelieve that a Tory had won a seat.

Cllr Campbell said: "It was a shock to see Ann Bain be knocked out, everyone was certain that it would be two Labour and two SNP councillors. Obviously the Tories had a really good day, but personally I am absolutely over the moon that the Labour vote has come out and supported me.

"Obviously people have trusted me over the last three years and and I thank them. I will continue to work extremely hard for them.

"Labour is not dead and is far from dead, we have loads of hard working councillors that are looking out for their communities. The turnout has actually been quite good and people are obviously interested in politics."

Cllr Guichan added that a prospect of a referendum had been very divisive in the increase in voter turnout.