LABOUR held control of Darlington Borough Council but by a reduced margin of just five seats.
Both the Tories and Liberal Democrats made gains on the council, which council leader John Williams put down to the controversial Pedestrian Heart project.
Labour now hold 29 seats, to Conservatives 18 and the Liberal Democrats five.
Former Liberal Democrat councillor Steve Jones, who had been suspended from the party pending an investigation into him nominating British National Party candidate Daniel Brown, held onto his seat but was sacked by the party.
The Lib Dems three gains were in Hurworth, from independent councillor Peter Foster, Park East and North Road - both from Labour.
New Conservative councillors included husband and wife team Mike and Gill Cartwright, who headed a campaign to save the historic White Horse Pub from demolition.
They defeated sitting Labour councillors Liz Hart and John Vasey.
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