ONE of the region's leading political figures yesterday completed a comeback when he was reinstated as leader of the North-East's biggest local authority.

Earlier this year, Ken Manton's political career appeared to be in ruins when he was deselected from the Sedgefield seat he had held for 16 years.

The Labour leader of Durham County Council was removed as candidate for the ward in March - only six weeks before the election - after an internal row with fellow party members.

However, only a week later he was thrown an election lifeline when he was chosen as Labour candidate for Bishop Auckland - although he still faced a fight to win a seat with a Labour majority of less than 350 under heavy pressure from the Liberal Democrats.

Last week, he won the seat with a slightly increased majority of 417 votes and yesterday a triumphant Councillor Manton was re-elected leader of Durham County Council at the annual meeting of the authority's controlling Labour Group.

As the result was announced yesterday, a delighted Coun Manton said: "I have received two votes of confidence within the past few days - one from the people of Bishop Auckland and another from my county council colleagues. It is my job now to show them that their confidence was not misplaced and I have pledged myself to that task.

"The county council is in a strong and healthy position, and in coming months, I look forward to working closely with the other councillors."

The Labour Group also re-elected Councilor Don Ross, who represents Framwellgate Moor, as deputy leader.