A BY-election in Burnley has seen a council seat return to the Liberal Democrats' official control.

Peter McCann, previously an executive planning member for the borough, was voted in for Rosehill with Burnley Wood, with a majority of 92.

Labour's Andy Devanney polled 249, Paula Riley, for the Burnley and Padiham Independents, got 154, Philip Chamberlain notched up 115 for the Conservatives and the Green's Victoria Alker 51.

The by-election was prompted by the resignation of Christine White, who stepped down earlier this year, amid claims of harassment from a resident.

Mrs White was first elected as a Lib Dem councillor but was one of the quartet who broke away to form the Burnley and Padiham Independent Party.

Cllr McCann's victory makes the Lib Dems the main opposition party in Burnley, giving them six seats to the Conservatives' five. Labour's majority, over all other parties, still stands at nine councillors.

Fifteen seats, one for each of the borough's wards, will be contested when Burnley goes to the polls on May 2, with council leader Mark Townsend among those defending their positions.