STAY away voters were last night branded "a disgrace" as an all-time low turnout was recorded in a Bolton Council election.

Fewer than one in four of the borough's electorate bothered to go along to the polling station to cast their vote.

In Farnworth, only 15pc voted and Peter Johnston was elected with just 903 votes.

The overall poll for the whole borough was 23.5pc. In the last elections in 1996, it was 36.8pc. In 1994, it was as high as 41.7pc.

The highest this year was Astley Bridge where 32.6pc voted.

Town hall statisticians said it was the lowest in 30 years and probably the worst on record.

Tory leader Cllr Norman Critchley summed up the mood of all the candidates.

He said: "It is an absolute disgrace. People have died for the right to vote and I find this low turnout indefensible."

Bolton South-east Labour MP Brian Iddon described the turnout as "terrible".

He said: "I can't remember it ever being this low."

Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Barbara Ronson said: "I do find this apathy very worrying and it does call into question the future of local government as we know it."

Labour maintained its iron grip on Bolton Council, despite losing one seat overall.

They now have 47 seats, the Tories eight and the Liberal Democrats five.

It was a good night for the Tories who regained their position as the main opposition party on the council.

There were cheers of delight when former Tory deputy leader John Walsh won back the Astley Bridge seat he lost to Labour three years ago.

He defeated the vice chairman of the leisure services committee, Steve Hynes, by 216 votes.

A jubilant Cllr Walsh said afterwards: "In Astley Bridge we have laid the foundations for the Conservative revival.

"There are 1,460 days to the last possible date when the next General Election can be held and this is the countdown to the end of this Labour Government."

A defeated Mr Hynes said: "I am disappointed, but I think that the low turnout affected the vote."

But it was a much closer vote in Bradshaw where, after FIVE recounts, Tory Anthony Osborn defeated Labour Lynda Byrne by just TWO votes. Mrs Byrne blamed the low turnout for her defeat and she said: "I am sad because I think Bradshaw is losing a good councillor. I only hope Mr Osborn will work as hard as me."

Cllr Osborn never expected to win but he added: "These gains mark the beginning of the end of Labour's honeymoon period."

The bright spot of the night for Labour was in Westhoughton where David Chadwick defeated Liberal Democrat David Wilkinson by 19 votes.

A disappointed Mr Wilkinson also blamed an "appalling" turnout for his defeat.

But victorious Cllr Chadwick said his win was based on a strong campaign.

He said: "I feel very humbled that I am going to represent Westhoughton and its people."

There was another close call in Kearsley where Labour Cllr Pauline Spencer held on by just eight votes.

She said: "Fortunately just enough voters turned out for me to win." There was also apathy among the candidates - several did not bother to turn up to the count.

Labour Cllr Gerry Riley, who was victorious in the Derby ward, hit out after his result was declared.

He said: "I do think it is an insult to the electorate."

It was a disappointing night for the Liberal Democrats who were hoping to build on the gains made in the General Election last year.

But Cllr Bob Ronson, husband of leader Cllr Barbara Ronson, held on to Horwich.

And former Liberal Democrat leader Roger Hayes was re-elected in Smithills after stepping down two years ago because of work commitments.

He said: "I am very pleased to be back."

Cllr Mrs Ronson said: "This was always going to be a difficult year for us because we were defending half of our council seats.

"We were hoping to gain Kearsley and it is disappointing to lose Westhoughton, but I am sure David Wilkinson will be back."

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