LABOUR have held onto Birkenhead and Tranmere ward with a majority of 617.

The result, which was declared at 1.22am, is as follows: Allan Brame, Liberal Democrat: 95 votes.

Pat Cleary, Green Party: 1,133.

June Irene Cowin, Conservative: 148.

Phillip Leslie Davies, Labour: 1,750.

David Charles Martin, UK Independence: 120.

Voter turnout: 33.2 per cent.

Cllr Davies told the Globe: "I am absolutely delighted with the result. It was a very difficult campaign, but the Labour vote was held up and voters showed their confidence in the work that we do all year.

"I want to say thank you to all the voters. I think it sets the tone for the rest of the night."

AV ballot verification update: It has emerged that the reason for the delay in verification of AV ballot papers at Wallasey Town Hall was that some papers had been counted twice.