LABOUR suffered an "anti-war backlash" across East Lancashire as the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats made major gains in local council elections.

The Tories tightened their grip in Hyndburn -- gaining one seat in the Central ward from Labour -- and holding all their remaining seats.

Labour lost overall control in Burnley although the British National Party failed to gain ground. The Conservative Party also gained a landslide victory in Rossendale from no overall control.

And in Pendle the Liberal Democrats stormed to a shock victory by taking control of the council.

The all postal vote trial in the region resulted in higher turnouts which an average of 40 per cent up nine per cent on last year.

Hyndburn's Tory Council leader Peter Britcliffe put his party's success down to hard campaigning, but new Conservative councillor Allah Dad said he believed it was more to do with a protest vote against the war in Iraq.

Coun Britcliffe said: "Labour has suffered nationally because of its policies, but I think the way we have openly tackled the financial problems we have had has won over people."

Allah Dad, who took Accrington's Central ward from sitting Labour councillor Sardar Ali, said: " I think there is an anti-war backlash in this ward, but it is important to remember that the Conservatives also supported the war. Perhaps people have forgotten that."

Pendle Labour MP Gordon Prentice said: " I think it was an opportunity for anyone with any kind of grievance against the Government to give us a bit of a kicking."

Coun Alan Davies, leader of the Liberal Democrats, blamed the Labour Party's national policies including the war on Iraq and postal voting for the change of power.

He said: "Many people wanted to protest against having to vote by post and did vote Liberal Democrat in order to do that. Many other people were using it as their protest against the Iraq war."

In Burnley, the BNP lost a seat in Cliviger with Worsthorne to the Conservatives but gained one in Hapton with Park, from Labour councillor and mayor-elect John Harbour.

Eight BNP candidates were fielded in the 15 wards up for election, with only one BNP seat being contested.

The total number of BNP councillors in Burnley remains at six, and the council falls to no overall control.

In Chorley the Tories gained two seats - one each from Labour and the Liberal Democrats. But there is no overall control of the council.