Lib Dems make ground as Labour retain control in Burnley

Liberal Democrats wrestled Gannow and Rosehill with Burnley Wood from Labour control and picked up another seat in Whittlefield with Ightenhill, ousting the Conservatives.

It means that the total number of Labour seats has now been cut to 27 with the Liberal Democrats on 13, Conservatives four and UKIP one.

Council leader Mark Townsend said: "It was a really solid performance from Labour. We were defending 10 seats, we've managed to hold on to eight of those. It's really disappointing when you lose any councillors. But overall I am satisfied with Labour's performance. We've still got 27 seats on the council so we still have a good majority with which to make the tough decisions needed."

Liberal Democrat leader, Gordon Birtwistle, said it had been an extremely positive day for his party.

"It's been a long time since we had three gains so it's been a very good day for us. We took a lot of stick in 2012 over the coalition government but we are on our way back from that now. Today the Liberal Democrats fightback started."