Labour has failed to secure a majority in North Herts by just one seat, but the party strengthened its lead at the authority which covers Hitchin.

Before the 2019 local elections five years ago, the Conservatives had an overall majority in North Herts with 28 seats.

But after polling on Thursday, May 2, the party has been left with just seven councillors out of a possible 51, down from 15 before the vote.

Labour won 25 seats, one shy of the 26-seat threshold for a majority, up from 19.

The party ran the council as part of a joint administration with the Liberal Democrats, who had 15 seats but now have 19.

After a boundary review which kicked in in 2024, the total number of seats in North Herts rose by two – to a total of 51.

Labour's Alistair Strathern was in the counting hall at North Herts Leisure Centre, Letchworth.

The Mid Bedfordshire MP has plans to run against Conservative Treasury minister Bim Afolami in Hitchin at the next general election.

He told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: "It's a great result for Labour and it's a great result for North Herts."

Mr Strathern said Hitchin's general election result, decided by voters in the Hertfordshire town and the Arlesey and Shefford areas of Bedfordshire, "is going to be close".

He added: "[Councillors] have set out some really ambitious goals around delivering better housing for local residents, better opportunities for people, championing our high streets, and trying to drive forward that green agenda across the district."

Full results to follow