Labour Success in North East Council Elections

6 May 2011, 09:53 | Updated: 30 March 2016, 13:50

Sunderland was yet again the first in the country to get its election results in, announcing Labour had kept control of the council there.

Labour gained four seats while Conservatives lost four.

The new Sunderland City Council make-up is Labour with 56, Conservatives 14, Liberal Democrats one and Independents four.

In South Tyneside, Labour gained three while Conservatives and Lib Dems lost one.

Newcastle Lib Dem Candidate Found Dead

A Liberal Democrat council candidate in Newcastle has been found dead after spending the day campaigning.

Neil Hamilton, who was standing in Westerhope, Newcastle, is thought to have been aged in his 60s.

Police were called to his house in Thorckley on Thursday evening after colleagues were unable to contact him, a party spokesman confirmed.

The death is likely to invalidate the result in the ward and trigger a fresh election.