Labour has retained its majority in Caerphilly County Borough Council's local elections. The local authority is also set to have a new leader after current leader Philippa Marsden was defeated.
The Labour councillor won just 213 votes in her ward of Ynysddu this year compared to 720 at the last election in 2017. The two independent candidates now elected instead each have more than 1100 votes each.
Deputy council leader Jamie Pritchard told Caerphilly Observer Philippa Marsden was an "exceptional leader" who will "bounce back". Ms Marsden has declined to comment at this stage.
Despite the leader's defeat, Labour still secured more than half of the 69 seats available over the borough. It means the party will remain in control of council for another five years until 2027.
One councillor happy to retain her seat was Philippa Leonard of Risca East. At the count in Newbridge leisure centre she said she was "over the moon" at the news and added: "I'm relieved and absolutely ecstatic to carry on the work in the community."
Roy Saralis and Jim Sadler were also elated to hold their Labour seats in Penmaen, winning 831 and 775 respectively. But for Llanbradach's labour candidates Adam and Rhydian Birkinshaw-Bird, a win was not to be.
The young married couple who live in the ward met whilst working on Labour councillor Lisa Phipps’ initial campaign to become a county borough councillor for Bedwas, Trethomas and Machen in 2015.
Adam won 394 seats, while Rhydian won 365. The ward was instead won by by Gary Enright and Colin Mann of Plaid Cymru who secured 643 and 775 votes respectively.
The results were announced throughout Friday afternoon, with labour sweeping the majority. A recount was also called in the St Cattwg ward, which covers Gelligar, Penybryn and Penpedairheol.
You can follow live updates from counts across Wales on our dedicated election day blog here. And in our live updating widget below, we'll bring you the ward results as they come in for Caerphilly:
The result in 2022
All 69 seats have now been declared, with labour winning a clear majority.
At present the results are:
Labour: 45
Plaid Cymru: 18
Independent: 6
The result in 2017
In the election on May 4, 2017, Labour took 50 seats, the same as five years previously. Plaid Cymru was in second place, but lost two seats which were picked up by independent candidates who totalled five.
Labour: 50
Plaid Cymru: 18
Independent: 5
