THE leader of Sedgefield Borough Council has lost his seat by two votes, it emerged this morning.
Councillor Bob Fleming returned 611 votes narrowly missing out to independent, Brian Haigh, with 613.
The results, which were announced following a recount at Sedgefield Borough Council's head office this morning, are a triple blow for Labour.
It means that all three Labour candidates in the Newton Aycliffe ward of Shafto St Marys have been voted out.
Coun Angela Fleming returned only 543 votes and Coun Malcolm Iveson returned 549.
Independent, Paul Gittins, whose family are well known in the area for running a green grocers shop, returned 820.
And a third independent, Terry Hogan, returned 634 to see the ward swing to complete independent control.
None of the councillors were available for comment this morning.
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