TORIES vowed to regain control of ROSSENDALE Council after snatching another four seats from the ruling Labour group.

And Labour narrowly avoided losing overall control after winning three seats on recounts by just nine, 11 and 31 votes which could have left the two main parties with 18 seats each if they had been lost.

Jubilant Conservative leader Coun John Holt declared: "I reckon we will be back in power next year - I can't think of anything that can change that.

"I think it is perhaps that people want a change. They have a national Labour Government, a county Labour Government and a local Labour Government and I think people think there should be some alternative.

"Tony Blair asked for this election to be an endorsement of his Government and I think Rossendale has given it!"

The Conservative gains narrow the Labour control from 25-11 to 21-15 and at next year's elections Labour will again be defending ten seats.

Tories now have all the seats in Bacup and Haslingden.

Council Leader Coun Alan Fishwick blamed the result on another poor turnout at the polls - in one ward only a quarter of the electorate voted.

He said: "My main concern is the turnout which used to be 50 per cent not that many years ago. We need to get that turnout higher.

"We are still in control and we have a resolution that Rossendale will be the best run council in the next five years.

"I am not particularly worried - it is up to us to react to this in a positive way."

Among the Labour losers were former Mayor and Mayoress Councillors Geoff and Dorothy Atkinson. And returning to the Council is former Conservative councillor for eight years Margaret Talukdar.

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