THE Conservative Party tightened its grip on Rossendale Council after an overall gain of two seats.

The biggest shock was Tory Fred Lynskey taking the Stacksteads seat from Labour.

And there was cross-party concern that the far-right British National Party, which stood for the first time in Rossendale, polled 369 votes in the Irwell ward.

Council leader Duncan Ruddick said he was thrilled the Conservative Party won two extra seats overall, after winning three and losing one.

He added: "Stacksteads has been a long-time Labour ward so we were pleased to get that.

"I am a councillor in the Worsley ward so we were pleased to get that. Helmshore, Haslingden and Edenfield is completely blue now and that voter confidence is a sign that we are working towards what the people want."

Rossendale's only independent councillor, Alan Neal, remained as ward councillor for Whitworth and Healey and dedicated the victory to his foster mum who died suddenly on Tuesday. Coun Neal, who was brought up in a number of foster homes, said: "I owe this victory to my foster mum, auntie Mary.

"She was very supportive of me even though she was a true blue."

Conservative charity king Jimmy Eaton, who has raised more than £300,000 over recent years for good causes, retained his seat in Greensclough, despite opposition from former Liberal Democrat Ribble Valley MP Michael Carr.

Rossendale's town crier Peter Gill was shouting his victory from the rooftops after taking control of Hareholme for Labour.

Labour's deputy leader, Alyson Barnes, who held on to the Goodshaw seat by the skin of her teeth, spoke out against the BNP.

She said: "I am so concerned about the support the BNP got in that ward.

"We can all blame national policies if we want to, but extreme parties can only fill a void.

"I ask every legitimate party to get out there and engage fully with these communities and make sure we don't have these people darken our door again."

The BNP's candidate, Kevin Alastair Bryan, who lives in Bacup, vowed to fight for a seat in the next local elections.

The Tories now have 25 seats, Labour nine, the Liberal Democrats one and there is one Independent.