LABOUR scored another double whammy in Bury as the party crised to a second General Election landslide.

David Chaytor and Ivan Lewis held onto their Bury North and Bury South seats on another dismal night for the Tories.

Mr Chaytor eased home by a comfortable 6,532 votes, albeit 1,000 fewer than in 1997, against Tory candidate John Walsh.

And Mr Lewis enjoyed an even better night, increasing his majority to 12,772 over Tory hopeful Nicola Le Page.

Both victorious Labour men were naturally pleased with the result, but bemoaned the low turnout which was down by 14 per cent in Bury North and 16 per cent in Bury South.

Once again the Liberal Democrats trailed in third place, but were happy to have increased their vote.

Bury-born Mr Chaytor (51) punched the air with delight as results from elsewhere in the country filtered through, giving his election team a growing air of confidence.

"The people have spoken loud and clear in support of the Labour Government," he announced from the platform after his success was confirmed.

"They want our policies of stability, high employment, record low interest rates -- the kind of success that governments throughout the century have been unable to achieve.

"The turnout was low, but our share of the vote increased. That's a vote of confidence in the Government and in my work as an MP in the last four years."

A bullish Mr Walsh said Labour polled 6,000 fewer votes than last time, and said some of their voters felt betrayed.

"I'm disappointed for the country," he said. "As a nation we face a period of immense turmoil. The threat of a single currency is not something that has been fully understood and it is a debate we must engage in.

"The Labour party have been given a mandate it appears for the next five years but clearly as an opposition we have a duty to oppose those measures that are going to be damaging to Britain and to Bury."

Ivan Lewis (34), Prestwich born and bred, thanked Bury South residents for the "confidence and trust" they had placed in him.

"We are the servants of the people, not their masters. The people have spoken with a clear voice: economic success and social justice are not competing options. They are saying they are satisfied with the Government's performance and want them to have a second term."

He added: "The British people have accepted a new set of values, they have consigned Thatcherism to the dustbin of history."

Defeated Tory Nicola Le Page said: "I have fought for what I believe in and what I think is right. The torch of freedom has not been extinguished. I look forward to the next election and the next Tory Government."

Election officers confirmed that around 13,000 postal votes had been cast, more than three times the usual number for a General Election.Election results Results:

BURY SOUTH

Ivan Lewis (Labour)..........................23,406

Nicola Le Page (Conservative).........10,634

Tim Pickstone (Liberal Democrat)..... 5,499

LABOUR HOLD

Majority -- 12,772.

Percentage turnout -- 59.15 per cent. BURY NORTH

David Chaytor (Labour).....................22,945

John Walsh (Conservative)...............16,413

Bryn Hackley (Liberal Democrat)........5,430

LABOUR HOLD

Majority -- 6,532

Percentage turnout -- 63.28 per cent.