A RECOUNT in the local elections saw yet more success for Labour in Lewisham.

Last Tuesday, as the nation waited to discover its next Prime Minister, Lewisham Council was still busy counting votes in the Grove Park ward - five days after residents went to the polls.

The Conservatives suffered yet more misery as one of their three Grove Park seats went to Labour leaving the Tories with just two seats across the entire borough.

This leaves Labour with 39 seats, the Liberal Democrats with 12, the Tories with two and the Greens with just one - meaning Labour now has an overall majority on the council.

Labour's Mayor of Lewisham, Sir Steve Bullock, who was re-elected last Friday said: "What I feel is happening is that people in Lewisham are asking the Labour party to provide leadership through what we all know is going to be a difficult time.

"They are placing their trust in us to continue to provide the services that people rely on, but also to manage the very difficult financial situation the country as a whole is facing."

A council spokesman said a Grove Park recount was needed as the results were so close.

Labour's Suzannah Clarke and the Conservatives' Christine Allison were both elected after receiving 2,312 and 1,937 votes respectively.

Tory David Britton was elected after polling 1,885 votes meaning Labour's Hilary Moore missed out by just two votes.

Labour's Heidi Alexander was elected as MP for Lewisham East last Friday in parliamentary elections.

Party colleagues Joan Ruddock and Jim Dowd were also voted in for Lewisham Deptford and Lewisham West & Penge.