THE shock waves are still reverberating around the Labour Party in Sedgefield, County Durham, following its reverses in the borough council elections.

Veteran council leader Brian Stephens was the biggest name to lose his seat as Labour's tight hold on Sedgefield was loosened on a sobering night for the party.

Although still firmly in control of the council, Labour's majority was cut from 35 to 20 after significant gains for the Liberal Democrats and Independents.

Labour has moved quickly to appoint Bob Fleming, of Newton Aycliffe, as its leader.

Coun Fleming, who is also leader of Great Aycliffe Town Council, had been widely tipped to take over, but it is understood he did not have it all his own way when the party met yesterday.

After beating off an unexpected challenge for the leadership, Coun Fleming's appointment as leader of the council will be approved at the annual meeting on May 16.

His deputy will be Fishburn's Kester Noble, but the make-up of the cabinet has not been decided.

There will also be some jockeying for position to find a new mayor, because deputy Linda Byrne was one of Thursday's casualties.

Coun Brian Meek, from Ferryhill, was appointed chairman of the Labour group yesterday, ousting Tony Blair's agent, John Burton, from the post.

Opposition members on Sedgefield Borough Council have warned that they expect a greater say in decision making.

Coun Ben Ord, whose Liberal Democrats now control Spennymoor, said he wanted to see the opposition represented on any new cabinet.

He said: "The bottom line is there should be two places in the cabinet for the opposition, one Liberal Democrat and one Independent.

"I would like to see the opposition working together and I would like to see the Labour leadership involve all parties and all councillors in decision making."