LABOUR lost three seats and only gained one but said the Lib Dem's failure to take overall control of the council represented a success for them.

Deputy leader Mike Hannon said he was 'very pleased' to have secured his own seat in Orford but bemoaned the low turnout there of 22 per cent.

He said: "My main concern is the poor turn out.

"I wish people could realise how important we are as local councillors in making decisions that affect people's day to day lives.

"We work hard, hold surgeries, I live in the ward, but there's this general apathy and I can't wave a magic wand to resolve it."

Labour did however manage to hold onto six of their seats and gained one in Fairfield and Howley, through Kevin Bennett's comfortable victory.

His colleague, Paul Kenny, said: "We always knew it was going to be a difficult set of elections for us and naturally we're disappointed to lose two seats.

"But we're pleased that six of our councillors retained their seats."

And he said the Lib Dems were the night's real losers - failing to take control of the council and leaving the Town Hall in no overall control.

The worst defeat for Labour was that of former Mayor George Warburton who was edged out in Penketh and Cuerdley by Conservative Paul Campbell.

And Hitesh Patel also lost in Bewsey and Whitecross. Two of the three councillors in that ward are now Liberal Democrats, in what used to be a Labour stronghold.