AS the last vote was counted at Peterlee Leisure Centre in east Durham, MP John Cummings declared "Easington remains a Tory free zone.'' Just three Conservative candidates fought for seats in the Horden South, Seaham Harbour and Seaham North Wards - each being comprehensively beaten by Labour into last place.
Only ten wards were up for election with the remaining ten wards uncontested and held by the Labour Party.
There were few shocks on the evening which saw Labour clinching two extra seats to give it an overwhelming control of the authority.
Labour now holds 47 out of 51 of the seats with the remaining four places divided equally between Independents and Liberal Democrats.
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