PRESTON'S ruling Labour party clung onto power by its fingertips after a cliffhanger result in last Thursday's local election.

After losing two seats, Labour's 28 councillors faced a 28-strong non-Labour opposititon, consisting of 13 Conservatives, 13 Liberal Democrats and two independents.

The most controversial results occurred in Deepdale and Moor Park wards where Labour defectors beat their former associates - Terry Cartwright standing as an independent labour candidate held on to Deepdale while Lib Dem's Mick Moulding claimed MP David Borrow's former ward.

Although Labour looked to have lost its grip, a series of closed-door town hall meetings and hushed exchanges soon put them back on top and Coun John Monk became the 29th Labour councillor in Preston Borough Council.

Council leader Peter Rankin blamed their disappointing results on the complacency of voters, but admitted there was a lot of hard work to be done.

And a breakdown of the total votes cast in Preston last Thursday reinforces Coun Rankin's concerns - 9933 votes were cast for the Conservate candidates; 8805 for Labour; 8310 for the Lib Dems; and 1007 for the other two.

But the future of Preston Borough Council is still not completely sealed - the Riversway by-election takes place next month when Lib Dem candidate Alan Valentine and Labour veteran Irene Black will battle it out to become Preston's 57th councillor.

Another Labour defeat would not effect their lead but it would certainly put more pressure on councillors to attend every meeting.

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