THE SNP have missed out on their bid to win their target seat of Galloway and West Dumfries diminishing hopes of the party's winning an overall majority in Holyrood.

Conservative candidate Finlay Carson retook the constituency seeing off a challenge by Emma Harper from Nicola Sturgeon's party.

However, Harper, a former A&E nurse, who was first elected to Holyrood on the SNP list in 2016 is likely to return to the Scottish Parliament, again via the PR part of the ballot. She tops the SNP's south of Scotland regional list.

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Carson netted 17,486 votes with a 3.5% increase in the share of the vote to 47%, while Harper took 14,851 and 40% of the vote share with a rise of just under one per cent.

His result meant an increased majority of 2635 over the SNP up from his lead of 1514 in 2016. 

Labour saw its vote fall by almost 7% while the Greens received 970 votes – up 2.6% five years ago.

The seat was a key target for the SNP and one of a handful of opposition-held constituencies the party hoped to pick up. 

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All eyes are now on Tory-held Aberdeenshire West, which could prove crucial in terms of whether the SNP gain an overall majority in Holyrood.

Former SNP communications chief Fergus Mutch is challenging the Conservative incumbent Alexander Burnett, Scotland's wealthiest MSP in the last parliament.

Carson told the BBC he was "absolutely delighted", adding: "Our hard work over the last few months has paid off, and I'm honoured and privileged to be serving the people of Galloway and West Dumfries once again up in Holyrood."