THE Tory party in Hyndburn celebrated gains while Labour leaders said the 'status quo' was largely continued.

In total 11 seats were up for grabs in different wards with Labour gaining victory in seven and the Conservatives gaining four, a rise of two from prior to the elections.

Each party both made gains in the former UKIP wards of Milnshaw and St Oswald's.

Former mayor and Tory candidate Marlene Haworth beat Labour's Gayle Knight to claims the St Oswald's seat by 831 votes to 814.

Cllr Haworth said: "I'm absolutely delighted, I'm so pleased we've been able to do this.

"I'm very proud to get the chance to serve the area which I live in.

"As the song goes, it's good to be back."

Labour's Andy Clegg picked up victory over Independent candidate and departing councillor Malcolm Pritchard in Milnshaw.

A big loss for Labour was in Rishton, where former portfolio holder for parks and leisure Ken Moss lost out to Tory candidate Michael Miller by 674 votes to 774.

Cllr Moss said: "It's not a shock, I've upset a lot of people by being direct on contentious issues.

"I will miss it, of course, but I've got a lot of things going on in my personal life that will keep me busy."

Elsewhere Sara Britcliffe picked up victory in Oswaldtwistle's St Andrew's ward, previously held by her father Peter Britcliffe before he stepped down prior to the elections.

She said: "It was very close but we both worked very hard.

"I'm looking forward to the next four years and I hope to be able to carry on the good work being done."

In Immanuel the Tory party retained the seat as Josh Allen celebrated victory over Labour's Shahed Mahmood.

Tory party leader Cllr Tony Dobson said: "I'm absolutely overjoyed, it's absolutely amazing.

"We've had some fantastic candidates who have put in a lot of hard work."

In Overton Tory candidate Patrick McGinley lost for the sixth time, this time by just 20 votes, as Labour's Jenny Molineux returned her seat.

Labour comfortably retained seats in Peel, Spring Hill, Netherton and Huncoat thanks to Joyce Plummer, Diane Fielding, Bernadette Parkinson and returning councillor David Parkins.

Former mayor and Labour candidate Cllr Tim O'Kane also retained his seat in Clayton-le-Moors in a relatively close vote against Tory Kelly Prince and Nick Collingridge, who stood as an independent.

Council leader Cllr Miles Parkinson said: "It's really just the status quo.

"We're pleased to gain a seat in Milnshaw, especially given the plans for Highams Playing Fields.

"We've lost a seat in Rishton where Ken Moss has done sterling work and has worked hard as a councillor for a number of years."

Two thirds of voters stayed at home for the local elections, with the voter turnout just 33.3 per cent across the borough.

Labour now hold 26 seats on the council, compared to the Tory party's nine.

There were five Independent candidates standing and one Green party representative, however none were able to pick up any seats.

Full results:

Netherton ward

Liz McGinley: Conservative 425

Bernadette Parkinson: Labour 780

Labour hold

St Andrew’s ward

Sara Alice Britcliffe: Conservative 647

Christopher James Knight: Labour 613

Conservative hold

Huncoat ward

Aqeel Afzal: Conservative 156

David Parkins: Labour 879

Nick Whittaker: Independent 316

Labour hold

Overton ward

Patrick John Luke McGinley: Conservative 819

Jenny Molineux: Labour 839

Joan Elizabeth West: Green Party 140

Labour hold

Milnshaw ward

Robyn Maisie-Jade Bradshaw: Conservative 222

Andrew Steven Clegg: Labour 650

Malcolm Eric Pritchard: Independent 368

Labour gain

Clayton-le-Moors ward

Nick Collingridge: Independent 255

Timothy Aidan O’Kane: Labour 463

Kelly Amanda Prince: Conservative 361

Labour hold

Peel ward

John Brian Baron: Independent 137

Jean Hurn: Conservative 119

Joyce Nicholson Plummer: Labour 580

Labour hold

Rishton ward

Michael Miller: Conservative 744

Ken James Moss: Labour 674

Conservative gain

Spring Hill ward

Jake Conor Allen: Conservative 155

Diane Fielding: Labour 770

Labour hold

St Oswald’s ward

Paul Brown: Independent 155

Marlene Heather Haworth: Conservative 831

Gayle Bernadette Knight: Labour 814

Conservative gain

Immanuel ward

Josh Blayne Allen: Conservative 746

Shahed Mahmood: Labour 426

Conservative hold