ANDY Burnham scored a landslide victory to retain his Leigh seat for a fourth term.

The Labour MP received 24,312 votes to secure Labour's 94th year in power in Leigh with a majority of 53.65 per cent - an increase over the 48 per cent he gained in 2010.

Speaking after his victory Mr Burnham praised the people of Leigh saying "they are the most decent, warm hearted generous people you could ever meet."

He said: "It is a honour for me to be asked to represent them for the fourth time in parliament.

"I thank them and, indeed, I thank all of my fellow candidates for the courteous and respectful way this campaign has been conducted."

He added: "Five years ago, London tried to break up this constituency by redrawing our boundary.

"They tried to silence Leigh's voice — well Leigh has roared back at London tonight.

"And this is what people here are saying.

"It is wrong that a child in this constituency is fed by a food bank because their families can't afford to buy food.

"It is wrong that vulnerable people go into debt just because they have a spare room.

"It is wrong that young people should have to pay £30,000 to go to university.

"It is wrong that the ambulance service has been privatised without any permission.

"It is wrong that the people that battled for the NHS after the war are now given only a 15 minute appointment.

"I hear what they are saying.

"I believe in Leigh and I believe in Britain and take notice that I will fight for both in the next five years as your MP."

Speaking after his victory, Mr Burnham added: "It is a tremendous, indescribable feeling.

"Leigh is on the up and I work tirelessly to maintain it.

"Leigh comes first in terms of my career.

"I won't feel I have done a proper job until Leigh has got better transport and more regeneration needs to happen in Leigh town centre.

"Leigh is on the up but there is still more work to do.

"I feel passionate in completing the job I set out to do.

"It is a proud town and a thriving town.

"It's the fourth time the people of Leigh have chosen me and it only ever feels better each time."

Second placed candidate, Conservatives' Louisa Townson, received 10,216 votes, which she said she was very happy with.

Miss Townson said: "I have increased my votes so everything is all good.

"I am very pleased with Lowton East, which was one of our target areas.

"By the looks of it there haven't been as many votes as this since 1931, so that is pretty impressive.

"On a national level it is very heart warming."

Of the 75,974 who were registered to vote, 45,312 people did so — a 59.6 per cent turnout.

UKIP candidate Les Leggett received 8,903 votes, just 1,313 short of taking second place.

But he said he was not phased: "Obviously we would have liked to come second but we knew that Labour were going to win.

"But we have not been disgraced and we can take this forward for the next general election.

"UKIP is here to stay.

"Watch this space."

Liberal Democrats received 1,150 votes while Left Unity candidate Steph Hall received 542.