THE people of Rossendale bucked the national trend as the Labour party gained a seat at the borough elections.

But the win will not impact on the Conservative’s control of the council.

Stacksteads, Worsley and Irwell Wards all saw a shift in their representatives.

Labour took Stacksteads with newly elected Jackie Oakes and Worsley with Ann Kenyon.

Conservative councillors Fred Lynskey and Mark Thomson both lost out to the two Labour women.

However, Labour’s Graham Haworth lost his seat in the Irwell Ward to Conservative Michael Christie.

Former Labour County Coun Sean Serridge also missed out in the Healey and Whitworth ward to Community First Coun Alan Neal by a mere 19 votes, who held his seat.

Leader of the council, Tory Tony Swain said: “This result shows that the people of Rossendale do not follow the national pattern when they vote and there is still work to do here.

“We still have overall control of the council but we are determined to make Rossendale the place where people want to live and work.”

Leader of Labour Party Alyson Barnes said: “I am absolutely delighted with the results.

“The Conservatives turned up expecting a bloodbath and that is not what has happened at all.

“We welcome two new Labour councillors and we have finished with an overall plus one result.

“It goes to show that the people of Rossendale know exactly what they want and they know the people who they are voting for.”

Members of each party celebrated a large increase in voter turnout as 76.04 per cent of the Valley took part in the local council vote.

The council make up now sees 20 Conservatives, 12 Labour, three Lib Dems and one Independent.