THE Conservatives scored a stunning success in Pendle as they took overall control of the council on a new electoral map.

They won 18 of the 33 new seats seizing power from the Labour/Liberal Democrat administration which had been running the borough.

Tory group leader Cllr Nadeem Ahmed promised to deliver and give a clear direction to the authority.

Thursday’s poll left Labour trailing with 10 councillors and the Lib Dems with five.

Everything was up for grabs in Pendle with all its 12 new wards.

The controversial Conservative-inspired changes to the borough’s political map saw the number of councillors cut from 49 to 33.

The number of wards was reduced from 17 to 12 meaning that no-one could predict the result with a total of 86 candidates standing.

But it was the Tories which came out as the big winners.

Cllr Ahmed said after the result: “We are absolutely delighted we now have overall control of Pendle Council.

“I would like to thank every voter and resident in the borough.

“We can now give the local authority a clear new sense of direction.

“A majority Conservative administration can now deliver on its promises and make life better for all resident of Pendle.

“We will run the council more efficiently and improve its services to residents.”

Independent Craig McBeth won just 49 votes in Colne’s Waterside and Horsfield ward as it returned Conservatives Darren Harrison and Ash Sutcliffe along with veteran Lib Dem Dorothy Lord.

The other Independent Ken Turner, a former Tory councillor, won 500 votes in Barrowford and Pendleside which elected Cllr Ahmed and two other Conservatives Carlo Lionti and Linda Crossley.

Labour group leader Mohammed Iqbal comfortably won in his Bradley ward with Conservative Mohammad Aslam and Labour’s Mohammad Sakib the other two councillors elected behind him.

LibDem group leader David Whipp was elected for Earby and Coates along with Conservatives Rosemary Carroll and Mike Goulthorp. His son Tom Whipp was elected in Barnoldswick ward with fellow Lib Dem Marjorie Adams and Tory Jenny Purcell.

Cllr Iqbal said: “I am happy the Labour vote held up in the key seats but the balance of power tilted in just one ward Marsden and Southfield thanks to the new voting map. I am disappointed to see the Tories in control but I am determined to hold them to account at every step.”