LABOUR increased their control of North-East councils which counted in local elections overnight.

The party made gains in the one-third of seats up for grabs in both Sunderland and South Tyneside.

And Labour also had a good night in Hartlepool winning 21 out of 33 possible seats and claiming just under two thirds of the overall vote in the full council elections.

It followed the national picture, where the electorate bit back against the ruling coalition Government parties, with big losses for the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats.

But in South Tyneside, the one standing Tory to retain his seat was unable to attend the count, after he was literally bitten during eleventh hour canvassing.

Jeff Milburn hung on to his Cleadon and East Boldon seat with a 249 majority, but spent the night in South Tyneside General Hospital undergoing surgery on a finger bitten by a dog while on a last minute leafleting round in the ward.

His wife Fiona, also a councillor, attended in his absence and described it as an election day to remember.

Elsewhere in South Tyneside Labour won nine seats, eight from Independents and one from the Liberal Democrats, and now control 92 per cent of seats on the council.

Leader Iain Malcolm said while ruling Westminster parties always suffer in mid-term, it appeared to be happening far quicker with the Tory/Lib-Dem coalition.

In neighbouring Sunderland, Labour made eight gains, six at the expense of the Conservatives, while they also ousted the council’s last Liberal Democrat member, Paul Dixon, in the Millfield ward.

But in Houghton-le-Spring the Independents, fighting a long-term campaign against waste dumping in the former Houghton Quarry, retained seats in both Copt Hill and Houghton wards.

Tory leader on the council Robert Oliver said the losses were not totally unexpected given the "difficult" national situation for the party, but he was glad to retain seats in St Michael’s and Fulwell wards.

As with other recent general and local elections, Sunderland retained its status as the quickest to count, with the first results announced nationally. Other Tyne and Wear council counts, in Newcastle, Gateshead and North Tyneside, take place later in the day, as will the referendum over issue of a directly-elected Mayor in Newcastle.

In Hartlepool it was a disaster for the Liberal Democrats, in coalition just a decade ago with 14 councillors, who lost their last remaining two councillors including that of veteran leader Arthur Preece.

New party, Putting Hartlepool First, (PHF) gained four seats and other Independents won a further six, making various Independents the main opposition to Labour.

The Conservatives won three councillors which represents an increase in share, despite previously having four seats, because the overall number of councillors has been reduced by a third.

Real power remains with Independent mayor, Stuart Drummond. However, it is expected a referendum will be held on whether to keep the mayoral system in November.

There was no election in County Durham where the council is voted on every four years.