LABOUR councillors accused political rivals of election skulduggery after jubilant Liberal Democrats gained three seats on Blackburn with Darwen Council.

But the ruling group were told that complaints about candidates withdrawing to maximise the effect of the opposition vote were a case of 'sour grapes'.

The Conservatives had a miserable evening losing three seats, while the Labour Party maintained its majority after winning two and losing two.

Labour still has 37 seats, against the Tory's 16 and the LibDem's nine.

The biggest shock was Labour's executive member for resources Gail Barton, who was defeated in Mill Hill after almost two decades as a councillor. The Conservatives pulled out of the ward, leaving it a contest between Labour and the LibDems.

The victorious Alan Dean, a first time councillor, said: "We have worked hard for the last 12 months in Mill Hill. We have had leaflets out and been sorting problems out for people. Now we deserve the benefits."

But Coun Bill Taylor, leader of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council, said the Conservatives and LibDems had worked together to try and hit Labour. "I am very sorry for Gail and she will be a loss," he said. "Conservatives have been apologising to me all night for their behaviour."

The LibDems then wrestled Marsh House from Labour, with Christopher Thayne defeating Warren Lishman.

Imtiaz Patel completed the party's trio of victories after taking the Shear Brow seat which the Conservatives gave up.

The closest call of the night was in Meadowhead where Labour's Ronald O'Keeffe beat the Conservative Richard Jones by just five votes after several recounts.

Coun Ashley Whalley, the council's executive member for regeneration, survived a close call and kept his seat by 96 votes. But he was angry at the LibDem campaign and the Conservatives for not putting up a candidate.

"I am very pleased that the large number of Higher Croft residents saw through this skulduggery and voted for people that can really help them," he said.

LibDem leader Coun Paul Browne denied his party had worked with the Conservative party to make certain seats one-on-one contests with Labour.

He said: "I think Labour is displaying sour grapes over our gains. We have put a lot of hard work into this campaign and here are the results."

Council chief executive Phil Watson was happy after the turnout increased eight per cent on 1999, when these seats were last contested.

The council could now be in line for extra Government funding after reaching a target average turnout of over 40 per cent for the past two years.

Lab: 37

Con: 16

LibDems: 9

FULL RESULTS:

AUDLEY

Y Jan-Virmani (Lab)...1,384

C Tattersall (Con)...307

D Dawson D'Arcy (Lib Dem)...256

No change

Turnout 36.9%

BASTWELL

M Hussain (Lab)...1,728

H Khan (Con)*...1,043

Lab gain

Turnout 55.5%

BEARDWOOD WITH LAMMACK

J Hirst (Con)*...1,585

M Osman (Lab)...356

No change

Turnout 43%

CORPORATION PARK

P McGurty (Con)...676

W Pickup (Lab)...661

I Patel (Ind)...486

K McIver (Green)...169

No change

Turnout 41.9%

EARCROFT

M Leaver (Lab)*...939

J Slater (Con)...743

B Morris (Lib)...401

No change

Turnout 34.4%

EAST RURAL

F Slater (Con)*...415

A Nuttall (Lab)...144

J Morgan (Lib Dem)...118

No change

Turnout 42.25%

EWOOD

J Milburn (Lab)*...836

J Smith (Con)...589

No change

Turnout 28.2%

HIGHER CROFT

A Whalley (Lab)*...674

F Gollop (Lib Dem)...580

No change

Turnout 27.3%

LITTLE HARWOOD WITH WHITEBIRK

P McFall (Lab)...1,089

G Eccles (Con)...911

No change

Turnout 36%

LIVESEY WITH PLEASINGTON

J Williams (Con)*...1,486

A Thompson (Lab)...530

J Hickmott (Lib Dem)...308

No change

Turnout 36%

MARSH HOUSE

C Thayne (Lib Dem)...693

W Lishman (Lab)*...596

H Slater (Con)...450

Lib Dem gain

Turnout 34.1%

MEADOWHEAD

R O'Keeffe (Lab)...824

A Jones (Con)*...819

Lab gain

Turnout 35.6%

MILL HILL

A Dean (Lib Dem)...707

G Barton (Lab)*...639

Lib Dem gain

Turnout 29.9%

QUEEN'S PARK

F Hussain (Lab)*...899

K Turner (Con)...585

No change

Turnout 33.5%

ROE LEE

M Law-Riding (Con)*...1,017

M Talbot (Lab)...519

M Dean (Lib Dem)...259

No change

Turnout 39.1%

SHADSWORTH

A Humphrys (Lab)*...744

D Jepson (Lib Dem)...225

M Carus (Con)...214

No change

Turnout 27.1%

SHEAR BROW

I Patel (Lib Dem)...1,212

S Khonat (Lab)...1,164

Lib Dem gain

Turnout 46.3%

SUDELL

D Brindle (Lab)*...689

J Warren (Lib Dem)...564

R Salton (Con)...188

No change

Turnout 31.9%

SUNNYHURST

D Hollings (Lab)*...1174

T Threlfall (Con)...420

S Simpson (Lib Dem)...349

No change

Turnout 39.2%

WENSLEY FOLD

M Khan (Lab)*...1,235

P Clegg (Con)...499

G Carter (Green)...179

No change

Turnout 39.6%

Back to the local election front page...