BURNLEY faced uncertainty over its political destiny today after the local elections left no party with overall control.

However, the Liberal Democrats were the party celebrating after the six-seat gain left them with the strongest hand in the negotiations to form a new ruling executive.

Group leaders were due to meet yesterday as the fall-out from the elections began to settle. The party groups will also meet at the weekend.

The most likely outcome which should be settled before next week's council meeting is that the Liberal Democrats will take control of the executive while offering the Tories a presence in return for their support.

Liberal Democrat leader Gordon Birtwistle is the most likely new leader of the executive, a position he has coveted for many years.

And today he promised to make a difference to the town.

He said: "We are looking forward to getting to work and one of the things we will do is to take the Elevate housing programme forward.

"It is taking far too long and we want to see more improvements and more building work starting.

"We also need to do something about tackling the litter in this town, which is a disgrace.

"We will talk to the other parties about how we can take Burnley forward, but we will not work with the BNP."

In contrast to the Liberal Democrats' celebrations Labour faced some serious re-building work with the loss of both their leader, Stuart Caddy and one of the most long serving members Peter Kenyon.

Mr Kenyon, who lost in Queensgate, after serving on the council for nearly a quarter of a century, said: "I am bitterly disappointed.

"I lost by a huge margin and this is a poor return for 24 years' service in the council.

"I think I and the party paid the price for what has been happening nationally."

The town's MP Kitty Ussher said the election results left the party with some serious thinking to do.

She added: "The results are obviously disappointing and we will have to go away and reflect on what people are telling us.

"But we will regroup and be back.

"It's clear that we need a council who can work with the government to deliver the improvements we have started in Burnley.

"It will be my job to make sure that investment continues."