LABOUR and Independent councillors have stopped Liberal Democrats taking control of a parish council, despite the Lib Dems being the biggest party.
Labour lost its majority on Pittington Parish Council following elections earlier this month.
Four of the authority's nine members are now Lib Dems, three are Labour and two are Independent.
The Lib Dems had hoped to make Councillor Carol Woods the council chairman, but the Labour and Independent members opposed her nomination.
In her place, Independent Councillor Andrew Sowerby, who represents the Littletown ward, was chosen.
Labour Councillor Bill Kellett, a former council chairman who is now the authority's vice-chairman, said: "We had held talks with the Lib Dems, but we hadn't come to a deal. Hopefully, we can overcome that. It shows confidence in the Labour group that the Independents backed us on everything. I can see the council working fine."
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