UKIP gained two seats in the council chamber as the tense Bolton Council local election count offered shock results across the town.

The party took a seat off veteran Labour councillor Maureen Connell, who was ousted in Little Lever and Darcy Lever, while deputy leader of the Conservatives Andy Morgan finished second in Hulton.

In total Labour won 13 seats, Conservatives five, UKIP two and the Liberal Democrats kept their stronghold in Smithills, with Cambridge law graduate Andrew Martin becoming the town's youngest councillor.

Cllr Martyn Cox kept off competition in Westhoughton North and Chew Moor - the first councillor to keep their seat since the ward was created.

Labour's dominance in Kearsley was significantly challenged, with just 43 votes between winning candidate Cllr Derek Burrows to UKIP's Mark Cunningham.

Cllr Nick Peel in Tonge with the Haulgh also fought off stiff competition from the Euro sceptic party, who scored 1,053 votes against his 1,399.

In total Labour still have a controlling majority with 40 members, against 15 Conservatives, three Liberal Democrats and two UKIP councillors.

See our live coverage of tonight's count here.

See the full breakdown of results here.


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