LABOUR further increased its majority on Middlesbrough Borough Council, final election counts have confirmed.

The results of the final two wards of the borough, Park and Trimdon wards, were only announced today (Tuesday, May 12) after recounts and a slow counting process party caused by the mayoral election count at the same time.

In Park ward three councillors, Julia Rostron, Frances McIntyre and Margaret Walters were elected after a recount. That meant Joe Michna, a long-standing councillor who first represented the Lib Dems and then the Greens, has lost his seat.

In Trimdon ward Jean Sharrocks won for Labour and Dennis McCade, an Independent, were elected. Former Labour councillor, Peter Sharrocks, lost his seat in a rare Labour reverse.

Labour now have 33 seats, Independents have nine, the Conservatives have four. In the previous council, Labour had just 25 seats and a majority of only one.

The results of the last two seats in full were:

PARK WARD (3): Martin Bulman (Green) 611, Jackie Elder (Ind) 1,011, John Hemy (Con) 612, Frances McIntrye* (Lab) 1,416, Joe Michna (Green) 1,134, Julia Rostron* (Lab) 1,669, Margaret Walters* (Lab) 1,234.

TRIMDON (2): Maria Cairns (Con) 445, Stephen Dee (Ind), 455, Dennis McCabe* (Ind) 553, Kelvin Mirfin (Con) 305, George Rogers (UKIP) 442, Jean Sharrocks* (Lab) 619, Peter Sharrocks (Lab) 535, Jamie Webb (UKIP) 285.