LABOUR clung on to power in Bury Council after a dramatic Friday recount following voting discrepancies in one key ward.

Some 48 votes "too many" were counted in Redvales, when the socialists were still one seat short of winning outright control of the borough.

After several recounts, returning officer Mark Sanders took the decision to halt proceedings at 4am on Friday and have a recount later at noon.

Although there was still a problem with the figures, Mr Sanders declared a result and Labour won two of the ward's three seats to fall over the finishing line.

The final tally was Labour 27 seats, Conservatives 19, and Liberal Democrats 5.

Despite the controversy over all-postal voting, few could dispute that democracy was the real winner. The poll in Bury was 48 per cent, the biggest turnout for 13 years.

Among the big names to lose their seats for Labour were Stella Smith, in charge of controversial policies like the waste collection service and car parking, and Paul Nesbit, former mayor of Bury.

The Tories continued to make inroads and cruised home in the new ward of North Manor, but lost two crucial seats in Moorside. Radcliffe is still monopolised by Labour: among those returned was Barry Briggs, the party's choice to be the next mayor of Bury.

And in the south of the borough, the Lib Dems gained a seat in Sedgley, which gives them control of Prestwich area board.

The British National Party failed to win any seats, although their three candidates polled a total of 2,235 votes and they did not finish last in any ward.

The seven Bury Market traders, standing as independents, brought up the rear in each case, gaining 2,877 votes in total.