WIRRAL'S ruling Labour Group was left clinging on to its slender majority after Thursday's by-election in Seacombe.

Former Liscard councillor Denis Knowles won the ward for Labour, giving the party a majority of two.

The special election was called after the death of Labour candidate and council Leader Dave Jackson just days before he was due to stand.

The final result of the poll left the Green Party's Perle Sheldricks with 26 votes, Conservative Patricia Jones with 331, Liberal Democrat Jim Robinson on 814 votes and Labour's Denis Knowles with 1,454 .

This now means that Labour has a majority of two and stops the council from being hung, the situation five years ago.

Labour Leader Steve Foulkes said: "I am very pleased with the result. Clearly we took severe blows in the last election and lost some good councillors.

"People were asked emphatically if they wanted to retain the Labour council and the people of Seacombe decided that they did. We will now try to reward their support by doing a very good job for them.

"I am especially pleased for Denis Knowles, who is a hard-working councillor."

Conservative Leader John Hale said: "We are not very surprised that we lost as Labour have held the seat since 1974. We were happy, though, that our vote had increased by 50 per cent."

Liberal Democrat Leader Phil Gilchrist said: "We are making steady progress and Labour can't take its heartland seats for granted any more. They must recognise that just because they won they must not get complacent."

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