A MOTHER who has led a campaign against knife crime following the murder of her son won a seat on Middlesbrough Borough Council, but only after two recounts.

Barbara Dunne secured her place in Middlesbrough Council's Ayresome ward at the third attempt after the count was postponed shortly before dawn yesterday, with the decision deemed too close to call.

Her success came during the biggest test of Labour's popularity nationally since 2005.

While avoiding the meltdown some had been predicting, the party lost hundreds of councillors, saw its Welsh Assembly representation shrink and was overtaken by the nationalists in the Scottish parliament.

The Scottish National Party claimed a historic first after winning 47 of the 129 seats up for grabs at Holyrood, with Labour one behind on 46.

The result leaves both the SNP and Labour short of the total of 65 needed to have an overall majority in the Parliament, and although some form of coalition now appears likely, it is not inevitable.

In Middlesbrough, Mrs Dunne, who helped found Mothers Against Knives, after her son, Robert, was killed in a samurai sword attack four years ago, stood as an independent in Thursday's local elections.

Discrepancies meant there had to be three counts in Mrs Dunne's ward, and after the final one yesterday afternoon, she was duly elected by a margin of four votes.

"The count on Thursday night was becoming really difficult because everyone was getting tired and it was only fair that it was done again," she said.

Meanwhile, Ray Mallon, again standing as an independent, had to wait until 5am yesterday before his re-election as mayor was confirmed. He polled 10,000 more votes than nearest rival, Liberal Democrat candidate Joe Michna.

Labour held on to power in Middlesbrough with a slender majority after they secured 26 of the 48 seats. But an early shock saw the deputy mayor, Bob Brady, fall victim to the independents, who picked up five more seats to take their total to ten.

In Hartlepool, the Labour group lost three of its strongest seats as previous strongholds Brus, Dyke House and Owton went to two Liberal Democrats and one independent candidate.

However, Labour continues to control the council with 24 seats.

In Stockton, Labour lost control of the council after five of its seats went to four independents and one Conservative candidate.

The borough council is now likely to see a coalition formed between Labour and the Tories.

The future of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council hangs in the balance after no single party was able to take overall control.

Elsewhere, in the North-East, the Liberal Democrats increased their majority on Durham City Council and held on to Newcastle City Council, while on Derwentside District Council, Labour narrowly saw off a challenge by the independents, which resulted in their majority being reduced from 21 seats to three.

In Prime Minister Tony Blair's backyard, Sedgefield, Labour held on to control of the borough council, but with a reduced majority.

In Wear Valley, Liberal Democrat gains meant Labour lost overall control of the council, but remained the largest party. Two members of Teesdale District Council's executive lost their seats.

In North Yorkshire, Conservatives heralded the "David Cameron effect" for helping them increase their share of the vote.

Tories at both Hambleton and Richmondshire district councils were celebrating after yesterday's counts.

In Darlington, the town's MP, Alan Milburn, rejected claims that the town was now a marginal seat. Labour's majority was cut from 15 to five with the Conservatives claiming the town was now politically balanced.

Despite fielding nearly 100 candidates across the region, it was a bad night for the British National Party (BNP), which failed to win a single seat.

But the party had significant backing in some parts of the region, particularly in Chilton, County Durham, where they collected a fifth of the total vote.