THE key feature of last night's European results in the North-East was how voters deserted the two major parties and sought refuge in the traditionally smaller parties.
The Liberal Democrats polled 138,791 votes, which was enough to win one of the three seats in the region, but together the UK Independence Party and Neil Herron - the two anti-EU names on the ballot paper - came within 4,000 votes of them.
In Hartlepool, UKIP overtook the Tories into second place behind Labour.
The picture was slightly contradicted by the Durham City breakdown. Last year, the LibDems took control of the local council, but last night Labour was the most popular party in the city.
The results included:
British National Party 1,585
Conservatives 8,600
Green Party 1,574
Liberal Democrats 4,524
Respect (George Galloway) 284
Labour 9,189
UK Independence Party 3,962
Neil Herron - Independent 885
Durham
British National Party 1,027
Conservatives 3,966
Green Party 1,686
Liberal Democrats 9,094
Respect 261
Labour 9,557
UK Independence Party 2,954
Neil Herron 1,159
Teesdale
British National Party 344
Conservatives 2,884
Green Party 575
Liberal Democrats 1,281
Respect 51
Labour 2,107
UK Independence Party 1,221
Neil Herron 372
Wear Valley
British National Party 983
Conservatives 2,801
Green Party 862
Liberal Democrats 3,413
Respect 181
Labour 7,248
UK Independence Party 2,423
Neil Herron 1,027
British National Party 1,478
Conservatives 3,600
Green Party 1,061
Liberal Democrats 3,918
Respect 204
Labour 11,420
UK Independence Party 3,285
Neil Herron 1,372
British National Party 1,021
Conservative 2,827
Green Party 816
Liberal Democrats 2,739
Respect 103
Labour Party 7,036
UK Independence Party 2,009
Neil Herron 1,039
British National Party 1,589
Conservatives 3,736
Green Party 1,246
Liberal Democrats 4,383
Respect 200
Labour Party 11,794
UK Independence Party 3,257
Neil Herron 1,702
British National Party 1,828
Conservatives 2,090
Green Party 810
Liberal Democrats 2,650
Respect 162
Labour 11,530
UK Independence Party 2,218
Neil Herron 2,034
Hartlepool
British National Party 1,572
Conservatives 4,332
Green Party 1,058
Liberal Democrats 3,469
Respect 266
Labour 8,295
UK Independence Party 5,056
Neil Herron 1,469
Middlesbrough
British National Party 3,091
Conservatives 6,714
Green Party 1,381
Liberal Democrats 4,343
Respect 1,182
The Labour Party Candidates 10,189
UK Independence Party 4,508
Neil Herron 883
Newcastle
British National Party 4,798
Conservatives 12,951
Green Party 4,977
Liberal Democrats 21,246
Respect 1,691
Labour 25,979
UK Independence Party 9,094
Neil Herron 1,598
North Tyneside
British National Party 3,703
Conservatives 17,813
Green Party 3,346
Liberal Democrats 10,249
Respect 511
Labour 22,152
UK Independence Party 8,027
Neil Herron 1,602
Redcar and Cleveland
British National Party 3,699
Conservatives 9,694
Green Party 1,991
Liberal Democrats 5,910
Respect 371
Labour 12,092
UK Independence Party 5,470
Neil Herron 723
South Tyneside
British National Party 3,116
Conservatives 6,941
Green Party 2,313
Liberal Democrats 6,715
Respect 500
Labour 16,685
UK Independence Party 6,269
Neil Herron 3,057
Stockton
British National Party 4,110
Conservatives 11,209
Green Party 1,832
Liberal Democrats 7,151
Respect 740
Labour 13,344
UK Independence Party 7,067
Neil Herron 1,283
Sunderland
British National Party 6,970
Conservatives 12,764
Green Party 2,876
Liberal Democrats 8,238
Respect 614
Labour 30,576
UK Independence Party 7,060
Neil Herron 13,661
Gateshead
British National Party 4,723
Conservatives 7,539
Green Party 3,071
Liberal Democrats 14,107
Respect 534
Labour 27,768
UK Independence Party 8,190
Neil Herron 1,79
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article