LABOUR Group Leader of Wigan Council, Clr Peter Smith, who comfortably defended his Leigh West seat was delighted with the local election results.

The Leigh man said: “Despite a national media frenzy, the results demonstrate Labour’s continuing appeal to people right across the Borough. UKIP have failed to win a seat, the Lib Dems are no longer part of the political landscape and the WIN failed to win a single seat.”

“Voters responded positively to our key campaign messages around the Wigan Deal and our pledge to freeze council tax.

“We now go back to the Town Hall with a fresh mandate and will continue to defend the services that local people value.”