Labour and Conservatives divide the spoils in a two-horse race in Keighley district

The party snatched one ward from an independent candidate, achieved a crushing victory for its own sitting councillor in the second ward and replaced one of its councillors who had opted not to go for re-election with a Labour councillor in the third ward.

But, as in previous years, it was a strikingly different picture just outside Keighley, with convincing Conservative victories in Bingley Rural, Worth Valley and Craven wards.

The last ballot box was delivered to Keighley Leisure Centre just after 11pm last night, and the first results at this venue were announced shortly after 3am today. (May 4)

Voter turnouts in Keighley district ranged from 40.03 per cent in Keighley Central down to 27.95 per cent in Keighley West.

Labour ousted independent candidate Brian Morris from his seat in Keighley West, with retired doctor Paul Godwin taking the seat with 1,571 votes.

Mr Morris, with 401 votes, was pushed into third place behind Conservative candidate Peter Clarke, who polled 1,100.

In Keighley Central, sitting councillor Abid Hussain, who is also Bradford's Lord Mayor, piled up 3,532 votes, far ahead of his next closest challenger, Conservative Stephen Butler with 715.

Meanwhile Keighley East saw a new face cruise to victory – Labour's Caroline Firth who had 2,436 votes. Her closest rival was Conservative John Kirby, with 1,525.

Cllr Firth takes on the seat left vacant by former Labour Councillor Steve Pullen, who had stepped down.

Beyond the town itself, the Conservatives retained their dominance, with new faces to represent this party at district level in Craven and the Worth Valley.

In the Worth Valley Chris Herd picked up 2,313 votes, ahead of second place Labour candidate Mark Curtis, with 1,472.

Cllr Herd, a farmer who runs his own butcher's shop, is already a town councillor on Keighley Town Council.

The margin of victory was even greater in Craven, where Conservative Rebecca Whitaker, 2,763 votes, saw off Labour's Val Carroll, 1,619.

Conservative veteran Cllr Mike Ellis secured his party's third comfortable Keighley district victory of the night, successfully defending his seat.

He gained 2,929 votes, compared to the 1,227 cast for Labour's Mohammed Ashraf Miah.

These elections were the first council elections since Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe became Bradford leader.

Commenting after the results from across Keighley and Bradford were confirmed she said: "I'm really pleased.

"As a leader you feel responsible to every councillor and every resident across the district. Elections are a very nerve wracking time for a leader.

"I'm pleased with the gains we've made, but we obviously still have a lot of hard work ahead and I'm keen to get on with that as quickly as possible.

"We have a very good mix of Labour councillors. You look across our group and you see some young councillors, in their early 30s, councillors across different ethnicities and genders – we are about 50 per cent female."

* Full Keighley district results: Keighley East Caroline Firth, Labour, 2,436 votes, elected. John Kirby, Conservative, 1,525. Trudie Jackson, Green, 287. Glen Cheney, Liberal Democrat, 154.

Keighley Central Abid Hussain, Labour, 3,532 votes, elected. Stephen Butler, Conservative, 715. Paul Mann, Liberal Democrat, 185. Allan Swales, Green, 182.

Keighley West Paul Godwin, Labour, 1,571 votes, elected. Peter Clarke, Conservative, 1,100. Brian Morris, Independent, 401. Peter Ferguson, Green, 102. Jan Orys, Liberal Democrat, 71.

Craven Rebecca Whitaker, Conservative, 2,763 votes, elected. Val Carroll, Labour, 1,619. Caroline Whitaker, Green, 377. Bob Jones, Liberal Democrat, 248.

Bingley Rural Mike Ellis, Conservative, 2,929 votes, elected. Mohammed Ashraf Miah, Labour, 1,227. Helen Baranowski, Liberal Democrat, 527. Brian Newham, Green, 333. Derrick Hodgson, UKIP, 249.

Worth Valley Chris Herd, Conservative, 2,313 votes, elected. Mark Curtis, Labour, 1,472. Janet Russell, Green, 194. Kay Kirkham, Liberal Democrat, 122.