AS the dust settled on a night of major changes, North-East councils were today looking at a different political landscape.

Labour was left assessing the damage after voters gave the party a bloody nose in traditional heartland areas such as Durham City, and even Tony Blair's constituency of Sedgefield.

In Darlington, the British National Party failed to make any gains and in Wear Valley a decision by Labour to freeze council tax bills appeared to have paid off.

In Durham City, the Liberal Democrats were making plans last night after taking power from the Labour group, which has ruled for 20 years.

New leader Sue Pitts appealed to voters not to expect a quick fix for the city's problems and said her party had much to do.

All 30 successful Lib Dem candidates gathered for a meeting at the town hall last night, when they were congratulated by the party's deputy leader, Berwick MP Alan Beith.

The shock waves were still being felt in Sedgefield after voters handed long-time Labour council leader Brian Stephens his marching orders.

Although still firmly in control of the council, the party saw its majority cut from 35 to 20 after significant gains for both the Liberal Democrats and Independents.

In North Yorkshire, the Conservatives were celebrating success across most of the county, consolidating their hold in some authorities and gaining ground in others.

But for Labour the day was a disaster, making no gains whatsoever and being swept from their once-dominant position in the unitary authority of York.

In Richmondshire, the Tories saw their number of seats rise by four to 11, making them the single biggest party on the district council.

On Teesside, Joan McTigue pledged to continue her one-woman campaign against council waste after winning a seat on Middlesbrough Council as an Independent.