THE Labour party retained their control of Darlington Borough Council in this year’s elections with an increased majority.

The ruling group fended off a targeted challenge from the Conservatives, taking four seats from their main political rivals.

Labour also defeated one Liberal Democrat councillor to increase their seats from 29 to 34 and up their majority to 15.

In the process, a delighted Bill Dixon assumed the role as leader of the Labour group and the authority from John Williams, who decided to step down in the run-up to the election after 22 years in power.

Councillor Williams said: “I’m delighted by the result, obviously. The Labour Party is delighted.

“We have been instructed with governance again as we have since 1991. In these especially hard times, it is humbling that the people of the borough have chosen us to be the administration again.”

With turnout at 41.47 per cent, Councillor Dixon said: “It’s a stunning result for Labour, but the only real winner is apathy.

“On a day when people in their thousands couldn’t be bothered to vote, people in the Middle East were being shot for asking for the right to vote.”

He added: “John Williams has led the Labour group very successfully for 20 years.

Mine must be the longest apprenticeship someone has served.

“We all owe a huge debt of gratitude to him, including his political opponents. He did what he thought was in the best interests of the town.”

Conservatives were disappointed by the result and believed they suffered where Liberal Democrat voters turned to Labour.

Conservative deputy leader Charles Johnson said: “We were certainly not working on losing anybody. We were working on gaining some seats.

“We haven’t worked out what has happened, but we think the Liberal Democrat vote has gone to Labour, which has skewed things.

“It is ironic that the Liberal Democrats have kept their candidates.

“I don’t think the result is good for the town, nor is losing young councillors.”

Although the Liberal Democrats’ share of the vote melted in some wards, they lost only one seat.

Group leader Martin Swainston, who said he backed Nick Clegg’s leadership “110 per cent”, added: “The way the night has gone, I’m happy with the result.

“It’s always disappointing to see a colleague of Peter Frietag’s calibre and experience go, but he is still a member of the party.”