THE Tories retained power in the Rossendale Council elections but with a majority reduced by one.

Their seats dropped from 23 to 22, while Labour increased their numbers from nine to 12 and the Liberal Democrats also gaining a seat on the council.

There were 15 seats up for grabs in the elections as there was also three by-elections, meaning two seats were contested in the Hareholme and Longholme Wards.

The third by-election was for the Eden Ward, which saw a landslide victory for Conservative Anne Cheetham, wife of the late Jeff Cheetam and council stalwart, who died in March.

Coun Cheetham won the seat with 708 votes, a majority of 442 over Labour's Margaret Stanley, who received 266 votes.

Liberal Democrat Jim Pilling received 127 votes.

Coun Cheetham, who has stood for election five times before but has never won, said she was very pleased but also sad that Jeff was not there to see it happen.

The Mayor of Rossendale Coun Peter Steen, a Conservative, kept his seat in the Irwell Ward by just two votes. A decision that was decided after four recounts. Labour's Tina Durkinreceived 384 votes to the Mayor's 386.

Kevin Bryan for the British National Party came third with 315 votes.

None of the four BNP candidates who were fielded in the wards of Cribden, Greensclough, Healy and Whitworth and Irwell were successful, but Mr Bryan said the party had not expected to win seats this time and would be back in the next election.

Liberal Democrat Catherine Pilling took Conservative Peter Starkey's seat in the Greenfield Ward, where there was no Labour candidate fielded.

She received 919 votes, with a majority of 239, and will be the only Liberal Democrat on the council.