LABOUR secured a convincing election victory in Rosehill last night -- overturning an Independent majority of over 400.

Maverick councillor Harry Brooks had held the seat since 1991, before standing down in October to concentrate on other projects.

The winning candidate, Dennis Otter, said he was 'humbled' by the result. He said: "A lot of effort has gone into this campaign and I am very grateful for it and the people who voted for me."

The result means that Labour now have full control of Burnley Borough Council with 25 seats, opposition parties have 23.

Labour's MP for Burnley Peter Pike, promised that now Labour had control of the council they could start to deliver.

Turnout was down almost three per cent on the last election in May, when Harry Brooks secured a comfortable majority of 473. Labour managed to turn that into a superiority of 96.

Nigel Musker said: "I have only had three weeks to prepare, but I have my family behind me and we are going to win in May."

The British National Party Candidate James Cowell, refused to talk to the Press, preferring instead to direct questions to deputy organiser for Burnley and Pendle BNP Simon Bennett. Mr Bennett said that before the counting began he would have been happy with 10 percent of the vote.

After the results were announced and it was revealed that the party had again secured somewhere in the region of 20 percent, Mr Bennett said the results 'exceed their expectations.' even though those expectations were to poll half as many votes as they did last week.

He said: "We were put head to head with the three main political parties and we came second. We are delighted with the result."

Mr Bennett maintains that his party's main objective remains the next full round of council elections in May, where they hope to field a candidate in every ward.

The losing Liberal Democrat candidate Anthony Davis, said: "As a novice, I thought it was very encouraging -- best wishes to the winner."

The full result for Rosehill is: James Albert Cowell (British National Party) 230, Anthony Davis (Liberal Democrat) 203, Nigel Anthony Musker (Independent) 284, Denis Geoffrey Otter (Labour) 380, Alan Stewart (Conservative) 101. Total votes cast is 1,198 and turnout was 28.8%.