Bradford Council was in limbo today with Tories and Labour groups scoring exactly the same number of seats at the polls.

Neither party has control with 38 seats each and again all eyes turned to the Lib Dems - and leader Jeanette Sunderland - to see which side the party was likely to back to offer a potential majority.

But the Lib Dems are not set to make a decision until after the weekend leaving the Council's political future uncertain.

A tense political battle for the control of the Council resulted in a neck and neck finish for the Labour and Tory groups early today.

High hopes by Tory party leader Iain Duncan Smith of winning one of Britain's biggest cities were smashed as the bitter rivals each finished up with 38 seats in the first election draw for more than a decade.

But that did not prevent drama being played out at counts across the district.

There were two dramatic recounts in Bradford Moor before the Tories snatched it from Labour. The result was a body-blow to former education chief Susanne Rooney who hoped to return following her election defeat two years ago.

The Eccleshill ward result also hung on a knife-edge with a recount which resulted in a gain for the Liberal Democrats with Ann Wallace winning by 42 votes. The BNP candidate polled a shock 486 votes.

Labour lost Clayton, Bradford Moor and Queensbury to the Tories.

But it seemed about to become a tit-for-tat battle as the volatile Toller ward was gained by Labour's young barrister Imran Hussain by a resounding 1,273 votes.

But one of the shocks of the night was in Shipley West where high profile Tory candidate John Carroll was toppled by Green party hopeful Martin Love with a 643 majority. He will join Bradford's first Green party Councillor David Ford in the Council chamber.

But a question mark now hangs over Britain's fourth biggest Metropolitan Council which remains at deadlock, with 12 Liberal Democrats holding the balance of power.

For the past two years the Liberal Democrats have supported a Tory leadership but frequently failed to vote with them.

Group leader Councillor Jeanette Sunderland said early today that her members would meet at the weekend to discuss future policy.

And the tie could also influence a Government decision on whether it should force a mayoral referendum on the district.

Tory Council leader Councillor Margaret Eaton, who regained her Bingley Rural seat with a decisive 1,701 majority, said she was pleased by the gains despite her failure to gain overall control.

She said: "It was particularly good because the victories were in different areas across the district."

But Labour group leader Councillor Ian Greenwood said the election had been surrounded by Tory "hype" and proved Iain Duncan Smith's suggestion that Bradford could be the jewel in the party's crown was wrong.

Coun Greenwood added: "When people realise we are in a position to regain control next year I am sure they will turn out to support us."

An average 36 per cent of the electorate across the district used their votes - the highest figure for years. It was swelled by a record 39,000 postal votes which fuelled allegations that they were being misused.

Three people have been arrested and released on bail while police investigate claims believed to involve postal votes.

But Returning Officer Ian Stewart praised the conduct of the public, candidates and agents and said the night had been relatively trouble-free.

The new constitution of the Council is Labour and Tories each have 38 seats, Liberal Democrats 12 and Greens two.

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