LABOUR tightened its grip in Hyndburn with a clean sweep in the county polls - but Tory voters in Ribble Valley continued to buck the national trend.

Tony Blair's General Election success was continued when Labour held all six seats in MP Greg Pope's backyard.

But high turnouts helped Tories Chris Holtom and Albert Atkinson increase their majorities in Ribble Valley South West and Ribble Valley North East, mirroring the success of Conservative MP Nigel Evans.

And newcomer Mary Wilson maintained the Tory hold on Longridge.

Council leader George Slynn provided the only Labour scare in Hyndburn, just managing to hold off the challenge of Hyndburn Conservative Association chair Win Frankland and Liberal Democrat Michael Gradwell.

But a bumper turnout, boosted by the General Election, assured increased majorities in the other five seats.

The only new face in Hyndburn is borough councillor Ian Ormerod, who replaced retiring Cath Thom in Rishton, Altham and Clayton-le-Moors. Doreen Pollitt retained her seat in Accrington Central, as did Dorothy Westell in Oswaldtwistle and Wendy Dwyer in Accrington South.

A jubilant Jean Battle kept her seat for Accrington North.

Coun Slynn brushed aside his scare to declare: "It's a fantastic result for the Labour party, both in Hyndburn and nationally."

Defeated Tory General Election candidate Peter Britcliffe said: "We have had some good county council candidates who have worked very hard, but unfortunately people have gone with the tide."

In Ribble Valley Coun Holtom, beginning his third term at county hall, said: "I am delighted to be able to continue representing the people of Ribble Valley and I must pay tribute to everyone who has assisted me."

County Coun Atkinson said: "This success isn't down to me but down to the excellent work of my canvassing team."

County Coun Wilson, a mum and grandmother, wants to promote family policies and schemes.

After taking the Longridge seat, she said: "With 11 grandchildren of my own I am very interested in family support projects and tourism."

Stephen Sutcliffe held on to the Liberal Democrat's Clitheroe seat occupied since 1993 by Coun Howel Jones.

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