Election blog: Conservatives take control of Lancashire

Conservative leader David Cameron flew into Preston after hearing the results, which saw the Tories swept to power for the first time for 28 years after gaining 51 seats to Labour's 16.

Among the casualties were Labour's leader Hazel Harding and deputy leader Doreen Pollitt.

The Liberal Democrats increased their seats but also lost their leader, David Whipp.

The BNP has won its first county council seat in Lancashire in Padiham and Burnley West.

In the first Darwen Town Council elections, the For Darwen Party took 7 of the 13 seats to take control.

All results for Lancashire County Council, Darwen Town Council and the Burnley Borough Council by-election will be added to our elections module - click here.

15.55 Tom Moseley at County Hall, Preston: ""That's all, folks", shouts Tory MP Nigel Evans as they win their 43rd seat. Returning officer Ged Fitzgerald confirms what everybody has known for most of the afternoon: 'I can formally declare that that the Conservative Party has gained 43 seats, and has overall control of Lancashire County Council.' Tory leader Geoff Driver addresses the crowd to loud cheers and applause: 'The Conservatives are back in Lancashire after 28 years of Labour. Labour is in dissarray.'"

15.45 Comment from reader Mick Wells: "How about a slightly more positive Labour story on the blog? i.e. Ciaran Wells, a 23-year-old standing in his first county election winning Great Harwood with over 200 majority. I know I'm biased but it would be nice!"

15.45 Confirmed - The Conservatives have won overall control from Labour of Lancashire County Council.

15.35 For Darwen secure a clean sweep in the Marsh House ward on the new Town Council which gives them control of the 13-seat council. The final tally: For Darwen 7; Liberal Democrats 4; Labour 1; Conservative 1. See the full results in the election module.

15.15 Tom Moseley at County Hall, Preston: "Tory Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans says a Conservative county council will be 'a breath of fresh air. It sends a very clear message that people want to see a change in local and central government. This is a complete meltdown for the Labour Party.'”

15.10 Tom Moseley at County Hall, Preston: "The Conservatives have got this sewn up – they’ve just made three massive gains from Labour including council chairman Alan Whittaker in Chorley Rural West and cabinet member for sustainable development Matthew Tomlinson in Leyland Central.”

15.05 Results for four of the five wards on the new Darwen Town Council have been announced. Liberal Democrat Paul Browne leads the way in Sudell, while Labour's David Smith tops the poll in Sunnyhurst. See the full results in the election module.

14.55 Tom Moseley at County Hall, Preston: "Currently looking at a swing from Labour to the Tories of around eight per cent. Ribble Valley Conservative MP Nigel Evans has arrived as his party closes in on overall control."

14.50 Tom Moseley at County Hall, Preston: "Former Conservative group leader Michael Welsh arrives in Preston in confident mood. 'We are going to take control, there’s no doubt. We are winning seats in Labour heartland. Labour have been wiped out. We are now doing to them what they did to us in 1981.' Current Tory leader Geoff Driver has also arrived having retained his Preston North seat.."

14.45 The big-name casualties keep on coming. Labour's deputy leader, Doreen Pollitt, has lost her Accrington West seat by just 22 votes from a total of 4194 cast. Meanwhile cabinet member Anne Brown, adult and community services chief, loses out to the Tories in Leyland South West. See the full results in the election module.

14.25 The first two results are in for the new Darwen Town Council. The Liberal Democrats take both Whitehall seats, while For Darwen do the same in Earcroft. See the full results in the election module.

14.25 Tom Moseley at County Hall, Preston: "Finally a councillor has arrived at County Hall – although he won’t be one for long as he’s chosen to stand down after 28 years. Long-serving Chorley East Labour member Don Yates says it has been a “disastrous” day for his party: 'We’re losing some very good people who have some great things. It’s also being lost in the mayhem of London, Gordon Brown and expenses.' Hazel Harding is no longer expected to turn up at County Hall following her defeat. The Tories are two off the 12 gains they need."

14.05 Council leader Hazel Harding on her defeat: "I am very disappointed in the result. I do not think it reflects the efforts we have made as Labour politicians but it is down to what has been happening nationally. I think we should be scared for public services now that the Tories have the county council seat."

14.05 Tony Winder comments after ousting council leader Hazel Harding: "Each of us who has been elected will have to prove we are worthy of the votes we have received. The expenses scandal has knocked everyone's confidence in the democratic system. I'm not claiming to be a saint but I do promise to do my absolute best to serve the public."

14.00 Another three high-profile Labour casualties. Jean Battle loses Accrington North to independent Malcolm Pritchard; Dorothy Westell loses Oswaldtwistle to Tory Peter Britcliffe (who is leader of Hyndburn Borough Council); and over in Preston North West, cabinet member Tom Burns has been ousted by Mark Jewell of Liberal Democrats. See the full results in the election module.

13.45 With all the excitement in the Lancashire County Council elections, I forgot to say that the Liberal Democrats held their seat in the Burnley Borough Council by-election. That means it's as you were. See the full results in the election module.

13.35 Tom Moseley at County Hall, Preston: "Returning officer Ged Fitzgerald, the council's chief executive, has just formally announced the first set of results - confirming Labour's wipeout from Burnley. The Conservatives are already half way to the magic 12 gains they need to take control."

13.35 Alex Willmott at Bacup Leisure Centre: "Confirmed - Conservative Tony Winder takes Labour leader's Hazel Harding seat. Also gone in Rossendale is Labour's Bob Wilkinson, who is also chair of the fire authority. It looks like the Tories are going to win every seat in Rossendale."

13.25 A morsel of good news for Labour - gain in Nelson South and Brierfield & Nelson North. See the full results in the election module.

13.15 Here's a surprise. Liberal Democrat leader David Whipp has lost his West Craven seat to the Conservatives. See the full results in the election module.

13.10 Labour have lost all their Burnley seats now - two more councillors fall to the Liberal Democrats. See the full results in the election module.

13.05 Labour are being wiped out of Burnley. They've lost Burnley Rural (where they finished last) and Burnley South West (where they finished third) to the Liberal Democrats now. Full results for these two wards on the election module.

12.45 The first results are in. The Liberal Democrats have won two Burnley seats (mentioned below by Pete Magill) from Labour. And the BNP's Sharon Wilkinson has ousted Labour cabinet member Marcus Johnstone in Padiham and Burnley West. She becomes the first BNP councillor on Lancashire County Council. Full results for these three wards on the election module.

12.35 Pete Magill at Turf Moor, Burnley: "Looks like two gains for Liberal Democrats from Labour in Burnley. Cabinet member Tony Martin appears to have lost his seat in Burnley Central West to borough councillor Charlie Briggs. Peter McCann appears to have seized Burnley North East for the Lib Dems from Terry Burns."

12.30 Alex Willmott at Bacup Leisure Centre: "Hazel Harding is back in the room but is still expected to make her way to Preston as the results are officially declared. It looks like the end of her time on the council after a quarter of a century."

12.30 Tom Moseley at County Hall, Preston: "Shelagh Derwent (Conservative) has retained Pendle West with an increased majority."

12.25 Alex Willmott at Bacup Leisure Centre: "They're having a third recount for Whitworth - it must be tight. Labour looking nervous, Tories wearing smiles. I'm eating a chicken sandwich."

12.15 Tom Moseley at County Hall, Preston: "Still no results, but Burnley is expected in the next half an hour. Camera crews are getting installed in the grand settings of the council chamber, with oil paintings of previous council chairmen lining the walls. The BNP are also believed to have polled well in Pendle. Conservative leader Geoff Driver’s mobile phone is switched off, but he will head for County Hall from his count, which is also in Preston if he wins.

12.10 Alex Willmott at Bacup Leisure Centre: "Labour leader Hazel Harding has walked out of the count. I presume she is on her way to County Hall. It looks like the Tories are the main beneficiaries of Labour's expected collapse."

12.10 Catherine Pye at King George's Hall, Blackburn: "They're adding the postal votes in with the other ballot papers now. People are beginning to moan about how long it is taking and saying Town Council and European papers should have been in separate boxes."

11.55 Catherine Pye at King George's Hall, Blackburn: "Just starting the count for the Whitehall ward in Darwen. Extra counters have been brought in to speed things up."

11.55 Catherine Pye at King George's Hall, Blackburn: "Just starting the count for the Whitehall ward in Darwen. Extra counters have been brought in to speed things up."

11.40 Alex Willmott at Bacup Leisure Centre: "Big news looming. Labour leader - and leader of Lancashire County Council - Hazel Harding is expected to lose her seat. In fact the party is facing losing all three of its Rossendale seats. Turnout for Rossendale area is 36.8%"

11.35 Catherine Pye at King George's Hall, Blackburn, sent this photo from the Darwen Town Council count:

11.25 Catherine Pye at King George's Hall, Blackburn: "Tories and Liberal Democrats not confident in the Darwen elections. A Labour candidate thinks For Darwen will have a landslide."

11.25 Apologies if you experience any technical problems with our website. Please bear with us!

11.15 Tom Moseley at County Hall, Preston: "Still waiting for the first results, but here are some turnout figures: South Ribble 38 per cent; Preston 35 per cent; Ribble Valley 35 per cent; Pendle 46 per cent. This is less than 2005, which was around 60 per cent, but that fell on the same day as a general election, which always increases the turnout."

11.05 Early indications suggest turn-out for the Lancashire County Council elections is roughly 40% - higher than expected.

11.05 Catherine Pye at King George's Hall, Blackburn: "The Darwen announcement is delayed by one hour because it is taking longer than expected to bundle up the European ballot papers because of a higher than expected turnout."

10.55 Pete Magill at Turf Moor, Burnley: "Labour insiders not hopeful and fear the BNP may have won two county council seats in Burnley."

10.55 Tom Moseley at County Hall, Preston: "The first count is expected to be in Pendle in the next 30 minutes with the final picture set to emerge in the early afternoon. Chief executive and returning officer Ged Fitzgerald will declare the results before the council leader - almost certainly either Labour's Hazel Harding or Tory Geoff Driver - will address the press."

10.55 The Lancashire Telegraph understands the BNP has won a seat on Lancashire County Council in the Burnley area and has polled well across East Lancashire.

10.45 Catherine Pye at King George's Hall, Blackburn: "Mood is pensive at the Darwen Town Council count but with some friendly banter between the parties. No one in particular is confident because it's a new council so no one knows what to expect. At the moment. everyone is stood around waiting while the European ballot papers are bundled up. We're expecting results from 11am onwards."

10.35 Tom Moseley at County Hall, Preston: "No count results are in yet, so no councillors have arrived at Preston - but I've just received a text from a senior Labour county councillor from East Lancashire, saying: "It's not looking right good, to be honest."

10.35 Tom Moseley at County Hall, Preston: "No count results are in yet, so no councillors have arrived at Preston - but I've just received a text from a senior Labour county councillor from East Lancashire, saying: "It's not looking right good, to be honest."

10.30 Pete Magill at Turf Moor, Burnley: "Political big hitters are out in force - Kitty Ussher, Gordon Birtwistle, the town's ex MP Peter Pike are here with the candidates."

10.00 Tom Moseley at County Hall, Preston: "It's the calm before the storm at County Hall, as what could be one of the most momentous election counts in the Lancashire's political history gets underway. The results will be coming in on a district-by-district basis, and displayed on big screens in front of the national media who are gathered at Lancashire County Council headquarters."

09.50 Just a reminder Euro election results will not be known until Sunday night at the earliest as counting does not begin until Sunday.

09.30 Election counts are due to begin now! Our reporters Pete Magill, Tom Moseley, Alex Willmott and Catherine Pye are at counts across the area and will be bringing news and results as they happen.

09.00 Last night problems were reported at the Bangor Street polling station in Blackburn after it ran out of voting cards. In the 40 minutes until replacements arrived around 40 people had to be turned away from the station. Councillors said it was the first time they had ever seen a polling station run out of ballot papers.

WHAT WERE WE VOTING FOR?

All the seats on the European Parliament, Lancashire County Council and the new Darwen Town Council up for grabs.

Eight MEPs will be elected to represent the North West; all 84 county councillors are up for re-election; and Darweners will elect their first 13 councillors to their new town council.

Additionally, there is a crucial Burnley Borough Council by-election which could change the make-up of the council.