THE Conservatives are now the biggest party in Bury.

But they did not gain enough seats to win outright control and the council remains "hung".

The Tories ended the night with 23 seats, Labour 20, and Liberal Democrats 8. It is the first time in 21 years the Tories have had more seats than any other party on Bury Council.

Labour lost three seats - two in the Prestwich wards of St Mary's and Sedgley to the Lib Dems and one to the Conservatives in Radcliffe North.

Tory group leader, Cllr Bob Bibby said: "I am disappointed that we only won one extra seat, but the party has made great improvements in Bury South.

"The group is meeting on Sunday, but as long as I am leader, there will be no deals with the Lib Dems."

The BNP fielded eight candidates in Bury, but failed to win a seat.

The overall turnout in Bury was 38.25 per cent, marginally up on last year's 37 per cent.

In Wigan, Labour gained three seats, maintaining its stranglehold on power in the borough. Labour now has 46 seats, Independents 13, Conservative 10 and the Lib Dems 6.

The Labour Party also kept comfortable control of the council in Salford, despite losing two seats to the Tories. The makeup of the council now stands at Labour 42, Conservative 10 and Lib Dem 8.