Tories in North Tyneside majority

The Tories are claiming a major victory in the north-east of England by winning a majority on North Tyneside.

The party now has 30 seats, with 21 for Labour and eight for the Lib Dems. One seat is vacant pending a by-election.

However, the council has an elected Labour mayor, who only needs one third of the votes to approve his budget.

There will be no overall control at Northumberland's new "super council" where the Lib Dems have 26, compared to 17 each for the Tories and Labour.

Voters elected a transitional authority ahead of the districts being scrapped in favour of a unitary council.

Elsewhere, Labour retained control of South Tyneside council, but a loss of four seats has halved its majority.

There was no change in Newcastle, where the Lib Dems won three seats, increasing their majority with 49.

Gateshead too was unchanged, with Labour losing one seat but staying in control on 41.