OPPOSITION parties believe they could wrest control of the town hall from Labour next year following this year’s council election.

Of the 11 wards the party was defending they lost five - Westhoughton South, Farnworth, Kearsley, Breightmet and Horwich and Blackrod.

And despite off-setting that loss slightly with a victory in Little Lever and Darcy Lever — where David Evans unseated Paul Richardson — political opponents are already eyeing up next year’s election.

Martyn Cox, re-elected as Conservative councillor Westhougton North and Chew Moor say Shafaqat Shaikh’s Hulton seat will be a target for his party next time around.

Labour will be vulnerable in the area due the part Labour planning committee members played in voting through the Ryder Cup golf course application.

And Farnworth and Kearsley First will again field three candidates in Farnworth, Kearsley and Harper Green.