A RED TIDAL wave of Labour councillors swept this year's local elections as Tory candidates took to the hills for cover.

The Conservatives felt the backlash of a disinterested and disillusioned Blackburn borough electorate who returned just five of their candidates - with only Councillor Edna Arnold really standing her ground in the provincial West Rural ward.

Coun. Arnold is now being tipped as the Tories' new leader after long-serving Donald Heatlie-Jackson and his deputy Fred Slater both lost their seats to Labour.

While the leader was dumped for Harold White in the battle of Earcroft, Coun Slater lost his Marsh House seat to Devena Paterson.

"I can't believe this is my reward for 12 years' dedicated service," said the dejected former Tory leader. "I suppose that's just politics.

Labour stretched their majority to 30 by taking Marsh House, Moorgate and Earcroft from the Conservatives, and increased their seats to 45. The Conservatives were reduced to 12 seats and the Liberal Democrats remain with three.

Delighted council leader, Malcolm Doherty, romped home with 922 votes, six times more than last year.

"Despite the appalling turnout, I'm very pleased with the results," he said. "Apart from the Sudell and Brownhill wards, we've done really well and I'm looking forward to leading another strong Labour council."

It was a good night for the Liberal Democrats too, who celebrated the return of their leader, councillor Paul Browne, after a ding-dong battle with Labour's Nigel Nuttall for Sudell ward.

"I was overwhelmed by my support," said Coun. Brown. "Everyone who said they were going to vote for me did. I'm a Darwener through and through and that makes a big difference here."

Electorate turnout in the borough was 31.2 per cent, down on last year's figure of 33.9 per cent.

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