CONSERVATIVES were celebrating this morning after snatching control of two wards in Wharfedale and Aireborough from Labour.

In one of the highest turnouts in the Leeds City Council area, at more than 40 per cent, the Otley and Wharfedale ward went to the Conservatives with Nigel Francis taking 1,152 more votes than Labour's John Eveleigh.

The Conservatives also took control of Aireborough with Dr Makhan Chandra Thakur 471 votes ahead of his nearest rival, Labour's Tony Addison.

Only Horsforth remained unchanged with Chris Townsley retaining his seat for the Liberal Democrats. Results were:

AIRBOROUGH

Makhan Chandra Thakur (Con) 3,117

Tony Addison (Lab) 2,646

Ian Hutton (Lib Dem) 1,256.

Majority 1,152

Turnout 37.87 per cent.

CON GAIN

HORSFORTH

Chris Townsley (Lib Dem) 2,764

Richard Hardcastle (Con) 2,145

Ted Hanley (Lab) 1,110

Andrea Binns (Green) 230.

Turnout 36 per cent.

LIB DEM HOLD

OTLEY AND WHARFEDALE

Nigel Francis (Con) 3,420

John Eveleigh (Lab) 2,268

James Hoskins (Lib Dem) 1,793

Paul Marchant (Green) 262.

Turnout 40.77 percent.

CON GAIN