JEREMY Corbyn has been voted leader of the Labour party in a landslide victory.

The veteran left-winger took almost 60% of more than 400,000 votes cast.

His closest rival was Leigh MP Andy Burnham who took 19% of the vote.

Yvette Cooper was third on 17% and Liz Kendall a distant fourth with 4.5% of the vote.

Mr Corbyn, MP for Islington North, was cheered loudly by supporters at the QEII conference centre in Westminster this morning, when it was announced that he'd taken 251,417 (59.5%) of the 422,664 votes cast.

West Bromwich East MP Tom Watson has been elected deputy leader.

Mr Burham had been a favourite to win the leadership election.

Today's results will come as a blow to leaders in Bolton who were backing him - including the town's labour MP David Crausby as well as council bosses.