THE votes for one key ward had to be recounted four times, but it still left Stockton Borough Council hanging in the political balance.

Labour, which held marginal power before the election, failed to make any headway and could only succeed in securing 27 seats.

While they may have the biggest political clout, the talk is of their opponents -Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Independents -forming a coalition to seize control with their combined 29 seats.

Only six years ago, Labour had 38 seats, more than three times that of their nearest rivals, the Conservatives.

Despite failing to secure a convincing majority, Bob Gibson, leader of the council's Labour group, still hailed the result as a victory, with 15 seats ahead of the Tories.

"It has been two good results for Labour," he said after learning he had held on to his seat in the Newtown ward.

"This is a first-class result given we were seven seats short due to restructuring. It is an excellent result."

Several seats were created in Ingleby Barwick, while other seats were scrapped following boundary changes.

Mr Gibson added: "We would like to thank the people of Stockton for returning the two parliamentary seats.

"I have been representing this ward for 30 years now -I bring 30 years of experience and hard work."

However, former Labour councillor Stephen Walmsley will continue to be a thorn in the side of his former colleagues after he was re-elected for the Thornaby Independent Association in Mandale and Victoria. Over the past two years, Coun Walmsley, who was de-selected, has been involved in a bitter feud with the Labour group.

Labour won 27 of the 56 seats, with the Conservatives their nearest challengers with 12. Liberal Democrats won eight seats, the Ingleby Barwick Independent Society gained six and Thornaby Independent Association secured three.

The final totals were only confirmed after the votes in the crucial Fairfield ward -the last to be announced -were recounted four times.

Conservative Maurice Perry was eventually elected alongside party colleague William Woodhead, 58 votes ahead of Labour's Catherine Linford.

Earlier, there had also been recounts ordered in the Village and Bishopgarth and Elm Tree wards, with less than 50 votes the margin on both occasions.