THE Liberal Democrats must consolidate their position in time for the local elections in 2008, leader Barbara Ronson said last night.

The party was left with just 12 seats on the Council, marking its worst results for years.

Cllr Ronson, who is due to become Mayor later this month, said: "Last year we lost four councillors and then we had defection and a resignation. It takes a lot of recovering from that."

She believes the party's chances were further harmed when three sitting councillors decided to stand down for family and work reasons.

She said: "It does go to show that it's not all cakes and ale being a councillor. We have reached a stage where we need to consolidate."

Although disappointed at being pushed back into fourth place by the BNP in the Tonge and Haulgh ward, Cllr Ronson believes it was more a reflection of electors' fear of the BNP than lack of support for the Lib Dems, with people getting behind the perceived strongest candidate to foil the BNP.

The Liberal Democrats are now a long way from the glory days when they gained control of the council in 2004.

"I am sure we'll be back," she said.