The Tories celebrated a “tremendous” result after holding on to Fylde by just one seat in a closely - fought election that went right to the wire.

Gains for the independents meant the ruling party weren’t able to celebrate until the very end, when they secured the councillors they needed to take 26 seats across Fylde.

And it was the return of Albert Pounder and John Singleton to their Staining and Weeton seats that sparked jubilant celebrations among the Conservatives.

Earlier in the day there had been Conservative casualties, with the Tories ultimately losing four seats to see their majority cut but gaining a seat in ashton to boast a councillor in every Lytham and St Annes ward.

And Coun leader David Eaves – who secured more than 1,000 votes to retain his Ansdell seat –said: “When you think of all the very difficult decisions that we’ve had to take in the last four years to still retain a majority in the present political climate is a tremendous achievement.

“Quite clearly the electorate of Fylde have had confidence in returning us again.”

The Independents remain the Conservative’s main opposition on Fylde after increasing their councillors from 15 to 20, including those who stood as non-aligned candidates.

But Coun Eaves said there would “certainly be discussions taking place” about whether former Conservative cabinet members Tommy Threlfall and Trevor Fiddler – elected as independents in Freckleton East and West respectively – would return to the ruling group.

But independent opposition leader Coun Liz Oades –who held on to her kirkham South seat –said: “I’m hoping that all those people who stood as Independents, Liberal Democrats and Ratepayers continue to work in opposition.

The electorate has spoken and I hope the message will go back to the Conservatives that we should all work together for the good of the people of the borough.”

Locally the Liberal Democrats defied the national picture to hold on to all three of their seats, with Mayor elect Coun Howard Henshaw retaining his St Leonard’s seat.

The ratepayers now have two councillors.