THE Labour Party won 15 of the 21 seats up for election today - including the Penistone East ward which was under Tory rule for a quarter of a century.

At the start of play, there were a total of 46 Labour candidates in the chamber - with Lib Dems the official opposition with nine councillors in situ.

However, by the end of proceedings the Labour council saw its majority extended.

Penistone East was the big win for the Labour Party, as Alex Burnett became the first Labour councillor in the ward for 25 years.

Coun Abi Moore, who won the Dearne South vote, also became the youngest councillor currently in the town hall.

She told the Chronicle: “It’s honestly such an honour to be selected by the residents of Dearne South.

“It feels even better because that’s where I’m from.

“I’m excited to get started.

“I’m really happy because it’s a Labour gain as well as we had an independent who is not standing.

“It’s my first time in the council and I’m probably the youngest.

“It’s such an honour.

“Having young people in politics is going to be such an important thing.

“I think we can bring new ideas and learn from the experience of the older members of the council.

“I just think that, together, we can make a good and diverse council which is what we want.”

Labour also made gains in the Stairfoot and Monk Bretton wards - alongside the aforementioned Penistone East and Dearne South.

The Lib Dem party held their seats in the Darton East, Penistone West and Dodworth wards - though Peter Fielding has stepped down from the latter and will be replaced by Sam Christmas.

They also gained a seat in the Kingstone ward, in a tight contest which saw Philip Wright oust Labour’s Kevin Williams by just 48 votes.

Whilst Independent Coun Jake Lodge kept his seat with a winning margin of more than 500 against Labour candidate Sherry Holling.

Another Independent councillor Andy Wray replaced the departing deputy leader of the council, Chris Lamb, in the Rockingham ward.

He picked up more than 1,000 votes in his ward.

The Conservative Party won no seats and lost the only seat they held that was up for grabs at this year’s election.

A full list of the election results, as well as more insight into the vote will be included in next week’s Chronicle.