PENDLE'S Liberals consolidated their power base in the borough as the talk of a backlash against the controversial bus sell-off failed to put the brakes on the party gaining extra seats.

The ruling administration gained two wards from the Conservatives, in Barrowford and Earby, by slim majorities to boost their numbers on the council to 29, a record for any party.

The Liberals also pulled off a victory in a controversial and tightly-fought battle for Whitefield ward in Nelson from Labour, amid a political storm between the parties over proxy votes. More than two out of every three people entitled to vote did so, by far the largest percentage turnout in the borough.

But the Liberals suffered a turn-round in Colne, losing the Horsfield seat of the current Mayoress Ann Moulton, and hanging on to Vivary Bridge by just 16 votes.

The voting left the Liberals with 29 seats, Labour with 19 and the Conservatives with three.

Leading Liberal Councillor Tony Greaves said: "We've survived the most vicious and unprincipled attacks we've ever been submitted to and we've increased our majority on the council."

He said the battle of the buses, and attacks on the administration's decision to sell Pendle's half share in Burnley and Pendle, had had an effect. He said: "A lot of our voters have reacted to vicious attacks and blatant lies of the Labour party." A lot of our voters have stayed at home. "We've very pleased with the result indeed. It's about what we expected." the elections showed a massive shift of opinion in the town.put a brave face on losing two of the four seats previously held by Tories. Standing Tory councillors Shelagh Derwent and Pauline McCormick kept a tight grip on Pendleside and Reedley respectively.

Coun Clarkson said: "It could have been a lot worse. I've lost a very good councillor in Rosemary Carroll and we lost Barrowford, but by a marginal vote. "The figures are better than the loss of two seats would suggest. We've increased the number of votes we got, which augurs well for the future."

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