Labour retained control of Bury council, making gains from both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats - while at the same time losing seats to the Radcliffe First party. The ruling group's number of seats rose from 28 to 29 with the party taking the seat of Liberal Democrat leader Michael Powell in St Mary's and another seat in the normally safe Conservative ward of Pilkington Park.
It was a very frustrating night for the Conservatives who had high expectations but saw their number of councillors reduce from 15 to 12, losing two seats to Radcliffe First.
The election was a stunning success for hyperlocal party Radcliffe First, who raised their number of councillors from three to eight and now hold eight of the nine council seats in the town's three wards. The party now has just four fewer councillors than the Tories.
The Liberal Democrats now only have one councillor, Christina Tegolo in Holyrood, after losing two seats in that ward as well as leader Michael Powell.
The election saw a tie in Radcliffe North and Ainsworth, where two Conservatives, Jo Lancaster and Paul Cropper, the deputy group leader both polled 1278 votes.
The race was then decided by the drawing of straws, with Mr Cropper losing out. All 51 seats on the council were up for grabs in the 'all out' poll, meaning voters had up to three votes to cast in the their wards.
The top scoring candidate in each ward will serve a four year term, the second highest two years and third placed just a year, there are no local elections in Bury in 2025.
The turnout was 39.3 per cent.
Council leader Eamonn O'Brien said his party's success showed 'our priorities match with the majority of voters in Bury'.
He said: "I think the results show we have the backing for our policies for regeneration and supporting communities as well as the poor showing for the Conservatives being a result of the national headlines and the current government.
"In Radcliffe, where we lost seats, I think many voters have obviously lost faith in the mainstream parties. We need to redouble our commitment to the town and accelerate the regeneration of the town."
Conservative leader Nick Jones, who faced a recount for his own seat in Pilkington Park said the closeness of the race there showed that his party had not performed as well as expected.
During the count, he said: "If Labour are taking a seat in Pilkington Park then it's obviously not good."
Yvonne Wright, who quit the Conservative Group earlier this year to go Independent, retained her seat in Tottington, topping the poll with 1,795 votes.
The election also saw the retirement of Labour member Trevor Holt after a 39 year stint on the council.
Final state of play in Bury:
Labour retain control with 29 (+1)
Con 12 (-3)
Radcliffe First 8 (+5)
Lib Dem 1 (-3)
Ind 1 (-)
