County elections

LABOUR kept a tight grip on the county council despite low turnouts - and East Lancashire councillors are set to be in control.

In a poll of few votes and even fewer surprises the ruling group maintained a healthy majority despite losing its top brass to retirement and controversy.

Rossendale County Coun Hazel Harding was expected to be named leader of the council this weekend.

The chair of education, has made a name for herself by keeping a tight grip on the issues affecting her area and is said to be respected for being direct, honest and open.

Current leader John West announced he was standing down earlier this year.

Accrington Central Coun Doreen Pollitt held on to her seat. She took over as deputy leader of the council when Coun Frank McKenna stood down to concentrate on fighting criminal charges relating to alleged financial irregularities.

Former Hyndburn council leader George Slynn described his victory in Great Harwood as a "doctor's tonic."

After a recount, Coun Slynn retained the Great Harwood seat for Labour with 2,390 votes - just 94 more than his Conservative rival Winn Frankland.

His re-election came after he was told no action would be taken following an investigation by police and the audit commission into alleged irregularities while he was at Hyndburn council. Following his victory he said: "These past two years have been both a political and personal nightmare for myself. I have been ill and have not been able to put in the time I would have liked but this is like a doctor's medicine and is the tonic I needed to get me back in public service."

Mike Hindley, a former council leader and MEP for East Lancashire, won the Rishton, Clayton and Altham seat which had been held by Labour leader Ian Ormerod.

Labour swept the board in Burnley - and in some cases with greatly increased majorities.

Marcus Johnstone, a third-placed loser in the Ribble Valley general election contest, won the Burnley West seat.

Coun Johnstone, a leading member of Burnley council before quitting the town to live in Preston, became the area's first "long-distance" county councillor.

The Southport college lecturer says he is just a phone call away and fast road routes put him within 30 minutes reach of Burnley.

In the Ribble Valley, the area's four sitting county councillors were re-elected.

A disappointing 66.5 per cent turnout was enough to return Chris Holtom, Albert Atkinson, Stephen Sutcliffe and Mary Wilson to county hall, albeit with reduced majorities. It was Ribble Valley Council staff that won the day after completing the count within an hour.

Labour held on to their three seats in Pendle and were keeping their fingers crossed for a fourth as a recount was called for the Pendle North result.

But Liberal Democrat Coun David Whipp gained a 216 majority over Labour's Frank Neal to retain his seat despite his majority falling from 2,170 in 1997.

Husband and wife team Tim and Dorothy Ormrod both won their Labour seats in Colne and Pendle South.

In Rossendale Labour failed in their bid to snatch the last remaining Tory seat.

Kathleen Holt held on to the Bacup seat for the Conservatives with an increased majority of 315 in a straight fight with Labour's Bernadette O'Connor.