IT is the end of an era in Bolton politics. Council leader Bob Howarth and the deputy leader, Guy Harkin, were today preparing to move out of their offices at the town hall after their devastating defeats.

Both men realised they faced an uncertain political future months before when the Government introduced boundary changes in the borough.

They had contested seats in newly-created wards - and lost.

Speaking minutes after losing last night in the Crompton ward, Mr Howarth said: "I suppose I am disappointed but these things happen.

"I have won and lost elections since 1956 and you have to take the rough with the smooth.

"It will give me more time to reflect. It was probably time for a new leadership. Others will take up the reins."

But he stressed that he will remain active in Labour politics to try to help his party regain power.

"We'll work to pick ourselves up and start again," he said.

Apart from a six-year spell when he won and lost a parliamentary seat for Labour, he has led the party's group on Bolton Council since 1975.

When Labour swept away the old Conservative administration in 1980, he became council leader - a position he has held for nearly a quarter of a century.

Mr Howarth, a former college lecturer, was first elected as a councillor to the old Bolton Council in 1958 at the age of 31.

In 1970, he lost the Bolton East parliamentary seat he won in 1964 but then rejected the chance to stand again, preferring to return to local politics and won a place back on the council in 1972.

Mr Howarth embarked on a teaching career after losing his parliamentary seat and became a councillor for the Central ward. He spent seven years working at Leigh College before switching to Wigan College, from where he officially retired as a general studies lecturer in 1987.

In 2001, Cllr Howarth's service to the town was rewarded when he was honoured with the freedom of Bolton.

Guy Harkin, the party's deputy leader, will also be leaving the town hall after losing in the Hulton ward.

The Labour stalwart, who has caused controversy throughout his political career, insists it was the war in Iraq that has lost him his seat of 24 years, not local politics.

Mr Harkin said: "We lost the election in Baghdad, not Bolton. It was Baghdad that defeated us. I don't think local politics has played a part in this election whatsoever."

But he has vowed to return to politics by saying: "I'll be back."

As the man tipped to take over when Mr Howarth finally stepped down, Mr Harkin was the councillor responsible for introducing the unpopular speed humps and 20mph speed limits on the town's streets.

He also caused uproar when he suggested Bolton should shed its grimy mill image and revert to the title Bolton-le-Moors, and last year he faced a disciplinary hearing after accusations of bullying rival councillors.

Mr Harkin had represented the Daubhill ward since 1980, but his "safe" seat disappeared in the boundary changes and he moved to the new Hulton ward.

He started his political career early. He was President of the Oxford Union in 1970 and one contemporary described him as a "firebrand politician".

He studied philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford, where he went on a scholarship after attending St Edmund's primary school and Thornleigh College in Bolton.

He joined Labour in 1970 after Ted Heath's government came to power and he put himself on the Left of the party.

Labour was keeping tight lipped last night over who would succeed the two fallen giants of their party, but names in the frame are believed to be Harper Green's Laurie Williamson, Cliff Morris from Halliwell and former MP Frank White, who won Tonge with the Haulgh.

Cllr Williamson admitted leading his party on the council would interest him.

Last night, he said: "I'm going home to bed and when I wake up tomorrow morning I'll see what things look like.

"I'm certainly interested in serving this party. We'll see what circumstances we find ourselves in tomorrow morning."

Cliff Morris said: "We will have to wait and see. I am undecided at the moment."

Frank White left the count without commenting.