Grim night for Tories on North East Lincolnshire Council as Labour make widespread gains

Robson Augusta - triumphant for Labour in Park ward

THE Conservatives on North East Lincolnshire Council have taken a pasting in the local elections.

By the time  all the votes had been counted in the early hours of this morning, they had been victorious in just three of the 12 seats up for grabs - Haverstoe. Humberston & New Waltham and Immingham.

It was an excellent night for Labour with wins in Park, South, Scartho, Heneage, Croft Baker and Sidney Sussex.

Meanwhile, the I dependents will have been delighted with their wins in Yarborough and Freshney.

The Liberal-Democrats - once such a force on the council - failed to make any inroads, but they held on in their East Marsh stronghold.

With the  win in Immingham, by just 10 votes following a recount, the night at least ended on a note of cheer for the Tories because this was a seat they might have  expected to lose to Labour.

Although the Conservatives remain the largest party on the council with 19 seats, their continued control is not guaranteed because 

Labour now have 15, the Independents  have five and the Liberal-Democrats have three.