I AM writing to thank the 1,358 people who supported me in the Astley Bridge election on May 2.

Although the ward still has no Labour presence on the council, I must also thank three of the Burnden residents who did vote Labour instead of Tory and ensured that control of the local authority was not lost to a tie between Labour and the rest, with the prospect of a Conservative Mayor holding the casting vote!

In by a whisker, as your headline says, but in nonetheless.

Stuart Murray

Labour Candidate

Astley Bridge Ward