LABOUR has kept its majority on Wirral Council following Thursday's local election.

With 23 seats up for grabs, Labour defended its 14, the Conservatives seven and the Liberal Democrats two.

Wirral Globe:

Counting underway at Bidston tennis centre

As the final result was announced at 2am, council leader Phil Davies said: "I'm delighted we've held onto all our seats.

"There were seats we were defending from 2012, which was was a really good year for us, and everyone got back.

"I'm particularly pleased with the result in Pensby and Thingwall.

"That was always going to be a difficult seat to win but for Mike Sullivan to win by a majority of 702 was a great result.

"I think it's a vote of confidence in Labour's running of the council that we've maintained our majority.

“Obviously it gives us a mandate to continue with our 2020 plan.

"Overall, I’m really pleased.”

Tory group leader Jeff Green said: “The real issue is that the Labour party didn’t really make any breakthrough. It was a stalemate.

"They failed to make any gains so will be disappointed, especially when there is a Conservative Government and the opposition would be expecting to make some headway at local elections."

Returning to politics was Stuart Kelly who was re-elected Liberal Democrat councillor for Oxton after losing his seat to Labour during last year’s ballot.

He told the Globe: "I’m pleased to be back, pleased that the people of Oxton have put their trust back in the Liberal Democrats and returned me with a fairly large majority which was better than expected and I'm very grateful for that.”

Wirral Globe:

Counting underway at Bidston tennis centre

Also back is former councillor Ian Lewis who lost his seat in Leasowe two years ago and was re-elected tonight with a win for the Conservatives in Wallasey, a ward previously held by Leah Fraser who had decided to stand down.

Liberal Democrat group leader Phil Gilchrist marked 40 years in politics with his re-election as Eastham ward councillor.

Of the 66 council seats in Wirral Labour have 39, the Tories 21, Lib Dems have five and the Green Party one.

Average turnout was 35.37%.

Voting also took place in the election for Merseyside's police and crime commissioner 

Jane Kennedy was standing again for Labour, Christopher Carubia for the Liberal Democrats, David Burgess-Joyce for Conservatives and John Coyne represented the Green Party.

Votes will be counted later this afternoon.