BURY'S Tories managed to claw back two seats from Labour in one of the poorest local election turnouts the town has ever seen.

The average turnout across the borough was just 26.85pc.

Tories now have six seats, compared to Labour's 39. The Liberal Democrats remain at three.

Five former Tory councillors attempted a comeback, but only Dorothy Gunther in Ramsbottom was successful. A new Conservative seat in Church ward increased the Tories' presence on Bury Council by 50pc.

Wildlife campaigner David Bentley beat Lib Dem rival James Hooley by 90 votes, but failed to make a dint in Labour's 412 majority.

Labour held seats of twice former mayor Richard Fletcher in Radcliffe North and that of Bury South MP Ivan Lewis in Sedgley.

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