A CANDIDATE who last served as a councillor 30 years ago was sensationally re-elected yesterday.

Councillor Peter Freitag, 78, was last a Darlington councillor in 1977. But he caused a huge upset yesterday by winning in Park East - which had been regarded as a safe Labour ward.

The other two seats in the ward were taken by Labour candidates.

Coun Freitag, a Liberal Democrat, said after the result: "I was not completely surprised, but I wasn't expecting it.

"I have already warned John Williams and Alan Milburn. I said: 'I'm back - now behave yourselves'."

Elsewhere in Darlington, the Liberal Democrats took both seats in Hurworth and, for the first time since 1991, there will be no Conservative councillor from the ward on the borough council.

Liberal Democrat councillor Martin Swainston, who led the Hurworth count with 987 votes, said: "Voters in local elections see beyond national politics and after the hard work of myself and fellow Liberal Democrats in Hurworth to improve the area, today's result recognises that."

The Hurworth election caused another upset, with independent candidate Peter Foster losing his seat on the borough council after 14 years.

Mr Foster, who will remain a parish councillor, said: "I wasn't surprised with the result because the Liberal Democrats worked very hard in the ward.

"They seemed to listen to the people more than the Conservatives, and that seems to have determined the result."

Lingfield residents chose to elect husband and wife team Ian and Lynne Haszeldine, who represent Labour.

Mr Haszeldine - serving his fourth term as councillor - will be joined by his wife, Lynne, who has been assisting her husband throughout his service.

Mrs Haszeldine said: "Ian has been a councillor for 12 years and, for all that time, I've been helping him out by answering calls and talking to local residents.

"But it's frustrating not being able to act on people's complaints and I'm genuinely delighted to be given this chance to make a difference. I didn't expect to win."

Mr Haszeldine said: "We are a very close family and I am really pleased for her. We will make a dream team."