LABOUR has lost overall control of Redditch Council for the first time in 19 years.

And in one of the biggest shocks of the evening, Council Leader Albert Wharrad lost his Winyates seat to the Liberal Democrats.

Redditch is now a hung council after the Conservatives gained two seats and the Liberal Democrats one.

Labour's Les Smith and Iris Beech were also ousted, leaving the party with 14 seats, the Tories 12 and the Liberal Democrats three.

Polling day saw a 29.8 per cent turnout, higher than previous years.

A new council leader, who will have more executive powers under the recent shake-up in local democracy, will be elected at the AGM on May 15.

The full results are (* denotes gain)

Abbey: Gordon Hazelton (Con) 216; Robin King (Lab) 345; Diane Thomas (LibDem) 986 (Elected).

Batchley: Peter Anderson (Con) 523; Jack Cookson (Lab) 793 (Elected); Kathleen Cummings (LibDem) 208.

Central: Michael Braley (Con) 684; Adam Isherwood (LibDem) 222; Stephen Wheeler (Lab) 806 (Elected).

Crabbs Cross: David Gee (LibDem) 192; Les Smith (Lab) 584; Sarah Sulley (Con) 791 (Elected)*.

Feckenham: Michael Chalk (Con) 967 (Elected); Patricia Hill (Lab) 449; Graham Pollard (LibDem) 273.

Greenlands: Phillip Mould (Lab) 790 (Elected); Anthony Pitt (LibDem) 245; Tracey Smithers (Con) 767.

Lodge Park: Janet Clark (Con) 452; Mohammad Nasir (Lab) 474 (Elected); Simon Preston (Ind) 207; Ian Webster (LibDem) 200.

Matchborough: Iris Beech (Lab) 570; Anita Clayton (Con) 867 (Elected)*; Christopher Hennessey (LibDem) 270.

West Ward (two seats): Caroline Ashall (LibDem) 415; Michael Ashall (LibDem) 383; Karen Lumley (Con) 1,182 (Elected); Gavin Smithers (Con) 1,047 (Elected); John Witherspoon (Lab) 536.

Winyates: Gordon Craig (Con) 149; Cyril Springall (LibDem) 778 (Elected)*; Albert Wharrad (Lab) 578.

Stratford District Council

Studley (three seats): Tony Cronin (LibDem) 774 (Elected); Michael Gerrard (Lab) 285; Sally Macreavey (LibDem) 691; Desmond Maries (Con) 625; William McCarthy (Con) 780 (Elected); Clive Rickhards (Lab) 372; Heather Wersocki (Con) 558; Hazel Wright (LibDem) 885 (Elected).

Sambourne: Timothy Knapman (LibDem) 149; Leslie Topham (Con) 378 (Elected).