THE Labour Party has increased its majority in the town hall after taking Newton and Sutton in the local elections.

The challenge  from UKIP failed to materialise with John Beirne attracting 667 votes compared to Labour’s Lisa Preston gaining 1470 in the Town Centre ward.

Beirne who made a return to politics with UKIP failed to show at the count.

Lib Dem leader Steph Topping came third in Sutton behind Labour and UKIP.

The deputy mayor Geoff Pearl (Lib Dem) claimed a convincing win in Eccleston with 1630 votes and Marie Rimmer, who will be one of the town’s parliamentary candidates next year gained 1693 in West Park.

She said: “I’m delighted. West Park is absolutely important to me. It’s my community. It’s where I live and where I shop.

“It’s everything to me and I shall continue to work as hard as a can for the community and the people.”

Speaking after all the results were in council leader Barrie Grunewald said: “It was very convincing and a good day for Labour.

“We fought some tough fights but it was never in doubt after with what we were picking up on the doorstep.

“It puts us in a strong position but we won’t rest on our laurels. But the electorate has spoken and I’m very happy about that.”

The results are as follows:

Parr: Labour 1444 UKIP 497 Con 95 Turnout 23.8

Thatto Heath: Labour 1510 Con 194 Lib Dem 85 Green140 UKIP 483 BNP 51 Turnout 25.8

West Park: Lab 1693 Con 220 Lib Dem 113 Green 192 UKIP 528 Turnout 31.9

Newton: Lab 1237 Lib Dem 978 Con 322 Green 216 Turnout 31.8

Sutton: Lab 1418 Lib Dem 545 Green 78 Con 145 UKIP 607

Town Centre: Con 131 UKIP 667 Green 107 BNP 87 Labour 1470

Bold: Con 179 Lab 1224 Green 139 Lib Dem 119 Turnout 28.7

Blackbrook: Lib Dem 143 Con 179 UKIP 626 Lab 1562 Turnout 30.4

Windle: Lab 1204 Con 501 Lib Dem 109 UKIP 498 Green 239 Turnout 31.8 per cent

Eccleston: Lab 762 Lib Dem 1630 Con 340 UKIP 520 Green 186 Turnout 37.1

Earlestown: Lab 1559 Lib Dem 183 Con 264 Green 253 Turnout 27.5

Billinge: Lab 1443 Con 433 Lib Dem 64 Green 157 UKIP 873 BNP 64 Turnout 34.3

Rainford: Lab 836 Green 188 TUSAC 117 Con 1312 Turnout 37.5

Moss Bank: Lab 1445 Lib Dem 263 Green 184 Con 234 UKIP 680 Turnout 33.4

Haydock: Lab 1542 Con 259 Green 128 TUSAC 51 UKIP 28.6

Rainhill: Lab 1612 Con 700 Green 211 UKIP 560 Turnout 34.4