LABOUR last night held the seat in the Haydock ward by-election.

Anthony Burns won the election that was called following the death of veteran councillor Jim Caunce earlier this year.

Mr Caunce was the country’s longest serving Labour councillor.

He polled 1,234 votes while Eric Sheldon (Liberal Democrat) had 540 votes, John Philip Cunliffe (Conservative) 112 and James Thomas Winstanley (BNP) 82.

Turnout was 20.36per cent.