THE Conservatives failed to make the huge gains they had predicted in Bury but they are the largest party in the town for the first time in 21 years.

The Conservatives needed to take four seats for a majority but they managed just one giving them a total of 23, just three more than Labour.

Liberal Democrats were celebrating after winning two seats from Labour, a total of eight seats.

The Labour and Liberal Democrat leaderships would not rule out a possible coalition but both said it was too early for any decisions meaning the council could be run with no party in overall control for the second year running.

Conservative Leader Bob Bibby ruled out an alliance for as long as he was in charge and would not say whether he intended to try to rule as the largest single party, the group will meet to discuss its future on Sunday.

He said: "I am disappointed but if you look back two or three years and we had less than a dozen seats on Bury Council, we have 23 now, we are moving forward.

"We won one, we lost one by four votes, the other two seats were disappointing but they were close.

"It is difficult in the North West, we expected better in Bury, but we have built up the organisation we lost during the 1990s and we are getting there, we will be back next year."

But Bury South MP Ivan Lewis described the result as "crushing" for the Tories. He said: "This is evidence the David Cameron factor has no effect.

"Conservative central office sent the national media to Bury, they need to be doing so much better than this to be winning the Burys."

Conservative Stuart Penketh, 25, a geologist, won Radcliffe North by just 79 votes. He said: "I won this seat by tackling the issues and problems which affect local people, in what is a forgotten area.

"We will be pushing for more recycling facilities."

Liberal Democrat Richard Baum won St Marys from Labour by more than 300 votes, said: "Voters liked our stance on local issues and that is what we fought this election on but they are telling us they are fed up with Labour and particularly the Iraq war."

Liberal Democrat Steve Wright, 41, general manager of Brae International, won Sedgeley ward from Labour with a majority of 278.

He said: "I became involved in politics when I heard Labour wanted to close down our schools, I had two children at Prestwich College, now I have three, I want to improve local services like education.

"I join two sitting Lib Dem candidates who have worked very hard to improve life for their constituents and they have recognised that by voting for me. I am very surprised and very happy."

Labour leader Wayne Campbell said: "This was a local election the Conservatives' tried to make it a national election, they have made it about David Cameron and it totally backfired on them.

"We have taken losses to the Liberal Democrats in the South of the borough and that is something we must look at.

"We would welcome any group to support the sensible policies we have put forward."

Liberal Democrat Leader Tim Pickstone said it was "too soon" to say if he would be trying to reach an agreement with the Labour party.

Click here to see the results in full...

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