LABOUR took control of Hartlepool Borough Council yesterday for the first time in four years.

The party gained an extra four seats, following local government elections held in the borough on Thursday, giving the party a total of 25, and a majority on the council of 47.

The results were not finalised until yesterday afternoon, following several recounts on Thursday night and a recount for the Grange ward yesterday morning.

The Liberal Democrats and Independents won nine seats each, while the Conservatives won four seats.

Independent Councillor Stan Kaiser, said he was delighted at the turnout in his Elwick ward.

He said: "The turnout was 52 per cent in my ward, which was the highest in Hartlepool and the highest in the North-East and possibly in all of the postal vote areas. I am delighted with my result of 85 per cent of the vote."

But it was not all good news for the Labour Party following the failure of Councillor Moss Boddy, the leader of the Labour group to retain his seat in the Grange ward.

The cabinet member and councillor for 20 years, lost by only seven votes.

There were two other high profile casualties, including former mayor and former chairman of Cleveland County Council, Conservative Councillor Frank Rogers, from the Burn Valley ward.

Coun Rogers was the council's longest continuous serving councillor, serving in his position for more than 37 years.

He said: "I am disappointed. I have stood there for many years.

"My party has suffered with these new artificial boundaries set up by the Boundary Commission.

"I felt I should be loyal to my voters in the ward, but there just weren't enough of them to vote. But I shall still support my party where I can."

The leader of the Liberal Democrats Tom Burey, from the Hart Ward, also lost his seat.

Labour was in power for 22 years until 2000 when a Liberal Democrat and Conservative coalition took over for two years until 2002, when there was no overall control.