LIBERALS in PENDLE have lost control of the council after four years - to a combination of Tory "girl power" and Labour gains in previous LibDem strongholds.

And it could have been far worse for the Liberals as a number of tight counts kept election staff working until midnight.

Mayor-elect Edwina Sargeant and her deputy Mayor and party colleague Councillor Ian Gilhespy both survived by the skin of their teeth to take up their roles later this month.

Coun Gilhespy had his nerves stretched to the limit during five counts which finally established he had retained his Horsfield, Colne, seat by just one paper where the voter had initially put the cross against Labour only to scribble it out and mark the LibDem box. Coun Sargeant kept her Waterside, Colne, ward by nine votes after three recounts.

Labour gained three seats; Craven, Vivary Bridge and Whitefield.

But it was a night for the ladies of the Conservative group to celebrate. They increased the Tories' standing on the council from three to seven by gaining Barrowford, Earby, Foulridge and Reedley, all won by women. It transformed the Liberals' majority of ten to a minority and changed Pendle into a hung council, throwing the running of the authority into confusion. Tory group leader Roy Clarkson, who after years in the wilderness now has six women colleagues, said: "We're on a roll!

"Our team will not be arrogant like the Liberals. They have been ill-mannered and acted like spoilt children."

He said it was too early to be talking of pacts with other parties.

Leading Liberal Tony Greaves said: "It was a low turnout and we simply didn't enthuse people to come and vote for us."

Councillor Azhar Ali, leader of the Labour group, said: "Labour will work to deliver on our pledges to the people of Pendle, including CCTV cameras, even if it means working with other parties. We want to co-operate with people who have common aims."

The make-up of the authority is Liberal 23, Labour 20, Conservatives 7 and one independent.

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