LABOUR has won two by-elections in Rossendale, taking one of the seats from the Tories.

Helen Jackson won the Irwell seat from the Conservatives after claiming 37 per cent of the votes, with turnout down from 56 per cent in May to just 17 per cent.

Michael Christie, who won the seat in May, resigned last month for health reasons.

In Healey and Whitworth former Lancashire County Councillor Sean Serridge retained the seat for Labour with 51 per cent of the votes, after Roger Wilson had decided to step down.

Coun Serridge lost his county council seat in May 2009 but had been the youngest every Lancashire county councillor when representing Whitworth as a 21-year-old in 2005.

Again turnout was down from 58 per cent to 21 per cent.

Labour Leader Coun Alyson Barnes said: “It was a miserably low turnout but we're delighted with the wins.”

Conservatives retain a majority on Rossendale Council with 19 seats.

Labour have 13, Liberal Democrats 3 and Community First 1.