ON a disastrous election day for the Liberal Democrats, the party trebled their number of seats on Westhoughton Town Council.

But Labour kept control of the 18-seat council, winning 12 of the council berths on offer.

Ryan Battersby, David Chadwick, Collette Harkin and Kevan Jones retained their seats for Labour in Central after being unopposed.

New councillors Barbara Dodds and Anne Graham won seats in Wingates for Labour after not being opposed.

Independent councillor Jack Speight retained his Chequerbent seat with 820 votes, and was joined by Labour's Jacqueline Peploe, who replaced outgoing Barbara Ramsden.

In Hoskers and Hart Common, Cllr David Wilkinson was joined by Lib Dem colleageues Derek Bradwell and John Ainscough in a shock clean sweep, ousting Labour's June Crook.

In Daisy Hill, Cllr Gill Williams and Cllr Lynda Winrow-Baker kept their seats for Labour and the Conservatives respectively.

They were joined by Labour's Thomas Brennan.

In White Horse, Matthew Chadwick, son of council leader David, lost his seat.

Conservative Phil Ashcroft retained his seat, and was joined by Cllr Christopher Peacock, Thomas Robinson and Samantha Watkin for Labour.