THE leader of the Labour Party in Selby has been voted off the district council, with the Conservative Party enjoying a resounding victory.

Jack Crawford was one of five Labour councillors to lose their seat in Thursday's elections. He put the result down to a protest vote against the Labour Government in Westminster.

"Although we worked hard locally, we've fallen to the national swing a little, with the problems the Government is having," he said.

"I don't think any of us have done anything wrong - we've done sterling work, but national issues took over."

The Conservative Party picked up six seats to put them on 29 councillors, giving the party a clear majority over Labour - on nine seats - in the 41-seat council. Three Independent councillors were returned.

Roderic Parker lost Tadcaster East, meaning there is no longer any Liberal Democrat representation on Selby District Council.

Conservative leader Mark Crane said: "It was a really good result for us. In the region, the Conservatives have done okay, but not that well all over, putting our result into stark contrast. Nationally, things have gone better for us this year, but we've outperformed that, so some credit must go to me and my fellow Conservative councillors for what we've done in Selby over the past four years."

Candidates in Sherburn-In-Elmet had to wait more than seven hours to hear the results for their ward.

Counting discrepancies meant the ballot was recounted three times, before Labour incumbents Martin Neville and Bob Packham, and first-time Conservative candidate Mike Jordan, were declared the winners. Just three votes separated Mr Packham from Torycandidate Nina Furminger and Labour's Paul Harvey.

The British National Party had their best result in the ward, with Duncan Lorriman picking up nearly ten per cent of the vote.

Four husband and wife teams were elected, with the wives joining their husbands who were already on the council.

Carol Mackman, wife of last year's district council chairman, John Mackman, was elected in the Monk Fryston and South Milford ward.

"The late Wally Norton suggested I stand, and I've always been interested," she said. "So, if you're watching Wally, here I am."

Conservatives Don and Patricia Bain-Mackay won seats in Tadcaster West and East wards respectively, independent councillors John and Mary McCartney won both Eggborough seats and Tories Chris and Eileen Metcalfe won Tadcaster West and Saxton and Ulleskelf respectively.

Nigel Adams, the prospective parliamentary candidate for Selby and Ainsty, said the result boded well for the next general election.

"These are fantastic results," he said. "It's beyond our wildest dreams to get so many votes and seats.

"It's a great platform to build on as we work towards the general.

"Selby voters have clearly had enough of the Labour Party."