THE son of Clitheroe Town Council’s leader has been elected as the Lib Dems maintained council control after Thursday’s election.

The number of Lib Dems on the council has held firm at seven with the Conservatives dropping to two seats after losing one ward and Labour gaining its first seat for eight years.

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Lib Dem leader Mary Robinson praised the effort of her local party and her son Paul after the council became a family affair.

Labour won its seat in the Edisford and Low Moor ward after it went to a recount with Maureen Fenton emerging victorious by two votes.

The votes were counted on Monday after residents went to the polls on Thursday to vote in the general election, borough and parish elections which were held on the same day for the first time in 20 years.

The new council members join after half of the previous members did not seek re-election, including the outgoing mayor Val Cooper and her deputy Jim Shervey.

Cllr Robinson said: “ I’m very pleased that we have managed to hold our majority and the number of seats that we had before the election.

“Despite the successes we did lose Simon O’Rourke who will be very much missed on the council as he had considerable knowledge of the local area .”

The new council met last night to discuss who would be put forward to serve as the next mayor and deputy mayor of the town with mayor making due to take place on Tuesday, May 19.

In the election to Gisburn Parish Council, John Falshaw, Colin Corlett, Darren Jackson and Mary Kirby have been re-elected while David Waters has taken Peter Ryde’s seat.

Kate Hopper, Chris Smith and Bob Whittaker have also retained their seats in Rimington and Middop Parish Council with Ian Brown and Andrew Little gaining seats.

The chairman of Bolton-by-Bowland, Gisburn Forest and Sawley Parish Council, Joan Porter, lost her seat while Hayden Fortune, Elizabeth Twist, Arnold Foster and Paul Wilson were elected.

On Longridge Town Council, Karl Kirkup lost his seat while Sarah Rainford, Greg Priest, Rosemary Beacham and Mike Everett were elected for the first time. Rupert Swarbrick, Stephen Ashcroft, Rose Adamson and Stuart Carefoot retained seats.