The UK Independence Party claimed their first ever seats in Hyndburn after making two breakthroughs on a dramatic afternoon at the local elections.

The biggest casualties of UKIP's rise were Labour's deputy council leader Clare Pritchard, at the hands of her father Malcolm, and veteran Conservative councillor Doug Hayes.

But former Independent Ian Robinson fell just nine votes short of making it a UKIP triumvirate on the council, falling to Jenny Nedwell in one of two Labour gains in Overton. 

Veteran former Peel councillor Bernard Dawson ousted Tory incumbent Nick Whittaker in Huncoat by a 61 majority, in another seat in which hundreds of UKIP votes may have swung the outcome, while former Labour mayor Colette McCormack suffered a narrow reverse in Immanuel at the hands of Conservative Julie Livesey, a rare bright spot on another largely disappointing election for the Tories, whose total of 3,551 votes saw them beaten into third place across the borough by UKIP on share of the vote.

After two losses and two gains Labour still has 23 seats with the Conservatives down one to eight and both the Independents and UKIP on two, after polling 28.6 per cent of the vote overall.

UKIP candidate Malcolm Pritchard ousted his daughter Clare Pritchard in Milnshaw, by 701 votes to 589.

Council leader Miles Parkinson said it's been a 'very interesting district election'.

He said: “I'm very pleased we have retained our majority on the council.

“We have won some seats but it is very sad to see Colette McCormack go who's been a very hard working councillor. We will work hard to retain that next year.

“I'm pleased to see that we have some new young candidates on the council and we now need to get down to business with the savings we have to make.

“I'm very pleased with the amount of people who have voted, irrespective of which party.”

Tory group leader Peter Britcliffe, who retained his Oswaldtwistle seat, said it was a 'very bitter-sweet day'

He said: We are just tremendously saddened to lose Doug Hayes who has been a very well respected councillor for many years and to lose Nick Whittaker who has been a great member of our party.

“We have had some good news in that out vote seems to have held very well and the Labour majorities are quite tight.

“It's obviously been a difficult election but I'm delighted to have been re-elected for the 10th time and have now represented St Andrew's for 30 years.

“We have introduced a number of new candidates and we look forward to fielding a strong turnout next year.”

Coun Britcliffe also said UKIP will be 'very disappointed' with the showing both locally and nationally.

New UKIP St Oswald's ward councillor Paul Thompson, who is chairman of the UKIP Hyndburn and Haslingden branch, said it's been an 'unbelievable day'.

He said: “It's gone excellently well and it is how I said it would do apart from Ian Robinson who was only beaten by nine votes.

“All the rest of the lads have put up a good show. Two years ago we only had one candidate standing and it shows goes to show UKIP has really been born in Hyndburn.

“I can't see it slowing down. Our membership is flourishing and we have a full list of candidates for next year.

“I just want to thank the people of Hyndburn.”

Following his victory over daughter Clare, new councillor Malcolm Pritchard said: "My family is more important to me than politics, but unfortunately politics has won.

“I don't want to celebrate and I can't put a happy face on for the simple reason of what's happened.

“It's just a sad day but I will work my socks off for Milnshaw and closely with Paul Cox and everybody in the council.

“It is the first UKIP seat not just in Hyndburn but in East Lancashire and we should be proud of that."