LABOUR members in Wyre Forest are picking up the pieces after an election which saw them hit their lowest ebb since the late 1970s.

Despite former mayor Lynn Hyde snatching a Health Concern seat back in Kidderminster, the party's overall representation on the district council dropped one to four with the loss of experienced campaigners John Wardle and Jim Cooper in Wolverley and Stourport.

But the group leader, who has served constantly since 1984, was philosophical about the state of affairs and believes his party can begin to climb out of the trough.

"If you are in public life and expect to be riding the crest of a wave all the time you have got another thing coming," said Jamie Shaw, who saw his Areley Kings colleague Mr Cooper ousted by Tory Maureen Mason.

"To lose a seat is obviously very disappointing. All I can say is that the four of us who are there are of proven worth and will continue to do our best for the district."

He believes Health Concern and the newly-invigorated Conserv-atives will shape an "informal" coalition, in that they will vote the same way on many issues.

But he thinks the bubble has finally burst for the group formed in protest at the downgrading of Kidderminster Hospital.

"Health Concern have peaked and won't ever be in a position again to run the council on their own," said Mr Shaw, adding a combination of factors both national and on a district level had caused problems for his own group.

And he said the Conservatives had got in "through the back door" in Areley Kings and Wolverley, which provided the shock of the night when 81-year-old Mr Wardle was ousted by Tory Nigel Addison.

The Labour stalwart has twice been chairman of Wyre Forest District Council and was first elected to the district council following local government re-organisation in 1974.

Mr Wardle, awarded an MBE in 1968, began his council career in 1949 when he was elected to the former Kidderminster Rural District Council and he remains a Wolverley parish councillor.

He was unavailable for comment when the Shuttle/Times & News contacted him after the election and Mr Shaw had not spoken to him at the time of going to press.

However, Mr Shaw was quick to emphasise the positives.

He said: "They are people we will miss but Lynn Hyde's seat is the first gain Labour has made from Health Concern.

"Lynn commands great respect and is very experienced. We welcome her back."

Labour has gone from having 28 councillors to four in five years, equalling their lowest district council total.