Conservative parliamentary candidate for Rossendale and Darwen Jake Berry (L) and conservative candidate for Eden Darryl Smith celebrate with Lynda Barnes as she retained her seat in the Facit and Shawforth ward

Conservative parliamentary candidate for Rossendale and Darwen Jake Berry (L) congratulates fellow conservative Darryl Smith over retaining his seat in the Eden ward

Labour candidate Dorothy Farrington looks happy after retaining her seat in the Goodshaw ward

Conservative candidate Gladys Sandiford celebrates retaining her seat in the Greenfield ward with her grandson Joe Hodgson

Labour Leader Alyson Barnes sips nervously at a glass of water

Conservative members watch over the count

CW, from top L: Council leader Tony Swain, Councillor Peter Steen and Joyce Thorne look on as fellow conservative Hazel Steen, candidate for Irwell, awaits the count

Liberal Democrat candidate for Whitewell Tim Nuttall is keen to monitor the count

Conservative candidate Hazel Steen celebrates winning a seat in the Irwell ward, with her husband councillor Peter Steen

Noel O'Brien sips a coffee

Labour candidate for Irwell Tina Durkin sheds some tears after losing her seat

Liberal Democrat Jim Pilling, who came 2nd in the Whitewell ward, congratulates fellow Liberal democrat Tim Nuttal, who won, with over a thousand votes

Conservative Jason Gledhill is applauded by fellow conservative members over his winning a seat in the Longholme ward

Conservative candidate Judith Driver, who retained her seat in Greensclough, and conservative candidate Jason Gledhill, who won a seat in Longholme