Labour has retained control of Rochdale Council with the Lib Democrats gaining just one seat, despite expecting a major resurgence in the town.

Labour seized Stockport Council off the Lib Dems in dramatic fashion, meaning the city is red for the first time in 40 years.

Trafford Conservatives were congratulating themselves on a relatively comfortable evening’s work in the only Tory-held borough in Greater Manchester.

The election results in Oldham proved fruitful for Labour, but a few shock results caused some upset across the parties.

Labour failed to sweep the board like many predicted but red half of Wigan can still be pleased.

Of 17 seats up for grabs – one from each ward – Labour took 10, losing three and gaining one, the Conservatives six and Liberal Democrats one.

As the UK awakes to survey the electoral battlefield the Labour stronghold of Tameside remains firmly held, but results reveal a persistent shadow of UKIP and independent candidates in 11 of its 19 wards.

Labour were ousted from just one seat in an otherwise expected red wash at Tameside local election overnight.

Labour shook off a strong challenge from UKIP to retain slightly diminished control of Bolton council in the local elections.

Labour’s Winton councillor David Lancaster expects the local elections to return a status quo across Salford.

Worsley Conservative councillor Karen Garrido is predicting that more and more people will choose to vote via post, rather than at the polling station on election night, in the future.