TOPPING the poll for Labour in the Deneside Ward of the Easington constituency, the leader of Durham County Council Albert Nugent pledged to stand for the leadership of the new unitary authority.

He would do so, he said "in the interests of both the party and continuity.'' His heir apparent, Alan Napier, the leader of Easington District Council - who topped the poll in Murton - would only comment on the fortunes of his party on the night.

With Labour winning 19 out of the 24 seats in the constituency, voters, he said, had shown their confidence in Labour's leadership both on the County Council and the Easington Authority.