RAMSBOTTOM has a new councillor after Labour’s Kevin Thomas took the seat from the Conservatives.

The shock result will see the secondary school teacher join the Tories’ Robert Hodkinson and Ian Schofield as ward representatives.

He will replace Ian Bevan, who is stepping down after eight years in office.

Jamie Hoyle had hoped to retain the seat for the Tories but could only muster 1,788 votes to Cllr Thomas’s 2,063, leaving the latter with a majority of 275.

As the result was announced by Bury Council’s interim chief executive Pat Jones-Greenhalgh shortly after 12.30am, huge cheers could be heard from Labour supporters and councillors at Castle Leisure Centre.

Speaking after his victory, Cllr Thomas, whose partner Karen Leach held Radcliffe East for Labour, pledged to work with Bury North MP James Frith to ensure the best for Ramsbottom.

He said: "It feels amazing. The people were desperate for a Labour team.

"People want that empathetic understanding. People wanted someone that is proactive and I'm going to be a proactive councillor.

“As part of my campaign, I demonstrated that and people have bought into that.

"I will work with James Frith and our Labour council to get the best for Ramsbottom."

The last Labour councillor to be elected in Ramsbottom was Luise Fitzwalter who served from 2012 until 2016.

Meanwhile, the only other candidate, Stephen Stokes of the Liberal Democrats, amassed 130 votes.

The seat was one of the three that changed hands throughout the course of the night.

RELATED: Labour hold on to council control in dramatic election night

Paul Cropper took Radcliffe North for the Conservatives, ousting Labour's Jane Lewis in the night’s other big shock.

Meanwhile, Nicholas Jones was elected in the traditional Tory area of Pilkington Park. He replaces Labour’s John Mallon.

Before the election, Labour held 32 seats, while the Conservatives had 16 and the Lib Dems three.

Labour are now down one to 31 seats, the Conservatives up one to 17 and the Lib Dems remain on three.

The result means Labour maintain a firm grip on Bury Town Hall.

The average turn-out across all wards was 37 per cent.