People wearing inflatable dinosaur costumes with blue Conservative rosettes were at the forefront of the Liberal Democrats’ latest election campaign stunt.

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey could be seen standing alongside the three “Tory” dinosaurs on Winchester's High Street as he made a speech on May 3. 

The costumed individuals held up a banner reading “Make this Conservative Government history”.

Speaking at the event, Sir Ed claimed voters are switching to the Liberal Democrats because they “have had enough of being taken for granted and being let down”.

“The votes are still being counted, but the message from across the country is loud and clear: People from around our great country have had enough of this out-of-touch Conservative Government,” he said.

READ MORE: Winchester City Council election result: Conservatives lose four seats

Hampshire Chronicle: Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is greeted by supporters as he arrives to join local Lib Dem

Following Thursday’s local elections, the Liberal Democrats have made gains in traditionally Conservative voting areas of the south of England, sometimes known as the “blue wall”.

In his speech, Sir Ed alluded to the extra council seats his party had picked up in West Oxfordshire, Winchester and Cheltenham.

The Lib Dem leader claimed his new councillors would be “real champions who are going to work tirelessly for the local community and deliver the fair deal that people so deserve”.

The party has become well known for campaign stunts featuring large and outlandish props.

These have included turning the hands on a clock face in the style of Parliament’s Big Ben, to demonstrate “time’s up” for Rishi Sunak, and Sir Ed knocking down a giant blue wall with an orange Lib Dem hammer.

Hampshire Chronicle: Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is greeted by supporters as he arrives to join local Lib Dem

Speaking after the elections, he said the Liberal Democrats had made “historic and stunning” gains in the local elections as he travelled to Dorset to greet winning councillors. 

In the councils which went to the polls on May 2, the Lib Dems won more seats overall than the Conservatives did.

The party beat the Tories into second place, winning 552 seats, up nearly 100.

The Conservatives are just behind on 515 seats, down nearly 400.

Labour won 1,158 seats, an increase of more than 232.

Hampshire Chronicle: Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is greeted by supporters as he arrives to join local Lib Dem

The Liberal Democrats increased their control of Winchester City Council by gaining three from the Conservatives in what were previously safe seats - Bishop's Waltham, Denmead and Alresford & Itchen Valley. 

That means the full makeup of the council is now Lib Dems 33, Conservatives eight, Greens three and one independent. It is the Conservatives lowest-ever total in Winchester.