Conservatives have taken South Ribble in the 2007 local elections, while Preston remains a hung council.
After 12 long years in opposition in South Ribble, the Tories came out fighting, gaining 24 seats in what was a political bloodbath for the ruling Labour and Liberal Democrat coalition.
More on this storyThe Conservatives scored some major scalps in Lancashire, snatching seats from planning committee chairman Bill Evans, street scene chief Tony Pimblett, and Christine Harrison, the former cabinet member for community engagement.
David Howarth, Lib Dem leader and deputy leader of the council, also lost his seat in Penwortham's Broad Oak by just three votes.
Margaret Smith, the new leader-elect of South Ribble council, said her party won power because the public liked what they heard on the campaign trail.
One of the surprise results in Preston was 24-year-old Rob Osinski taking the Larches ward for the Liberal Democrats from Labour's Martyn Rawlinson.
More on this storyIt was a true blue night in Ribble Valley as the Conservatives increased their majority by a further eight seats.
The Tories strengthened their grip on the authority at the expense of the opposition Liberal Democrats who lost five seats.
More on this storyThe Conservatives increased their majority during a successful night in West Lancashire, gaining an extra seat overall.
More on this storyThe Tories strengthened their grip on Chorley after a good night at the polls.
A year after taking over the council, the Tories picked up an extra seat increasing their lead over Labour to eight. Conservatives now have 25 seats.
More on this storyThe Tory gain came in Chorley South East where Pat Houghton won by just 21 votes.
Wyre have four more years of Conservative control after a disastrous night for Labour at the polls.
More on this storyThe Tories, who held 34 out of 55 seats on Wyre Council going into the count, picked up a further 11 Labour seats.
Voters went to the polls in most wards in Preston, South Ribble, Chorley, Lancaster, Wyre, Fylde, Ribble Valley and West Lancashire.
Polls were opened from 7am until 10pm, with thousands having already cast their vote by post.
It is the biggest election in the local cycle in England, with about 10,500 council seats up for grabs across the country.
Full results for central and west LancashireVisit our Local Election special sectionRead 10 pages of local election coverage in Friday's Lancashire Evening PostNational round-up