Labour retains control of Coventry City Council

The count at the Ricoh Arena was delayed after about 100 ballot papers went missing

Labour has retained overall control of Coventry City Council after winning 13 of the 19 contested seats.

Council leader Ann Lucas was re-elected in Holbrook with 1,962 votes, seeing off the challenge of the Get Cov Back to the Ricoh candidate Brian Patton.

There were delays as a full recount was held for the Cheylesmore area, while 100 missing ballot papers were found.

The Conservatives held Stratford-upon-Avon and Rugby and Labour retained Nuneaton & Bedworth.

Labour's Ms Lucas said: "We still remain 43 Labour councillors, 11 Tory councillors and we are free - thank God - of any presence from any of the extreme parties, so all in all, a job well done.

"I suppose the fact that I polled almost 2,000 votes and the protest [Get Cov Back To The Ricoh group] was just over 200, I would say is a clear vindication of the entire council's policy, transparency and stance over the whole issue."

'Task ahead'

Brian Patton stood for the Get Cov Back to the Ricoh group in Holbrooks and received 235 votes.

In Stratford-upon-Avon, the Conservatives won 15 of 18 seats that were contested, picking up five, to give a total of 35.

Conservative MP for the town, Nadhim Zahawi, said: "It's important that we continue to make sure that as a council and members of parliament, we stay focused on the task ahead, which is delivering for the people of Stratford."

The Liberal Democrats lost four seats, meaning they now hold 12, with Labour and independents having the remaining five seats.

In Rugby, the Conservatives won seven of 14 seats that were contested, losing two.

The Tories have 23 seats, Labour 10, the Lib Dems seven and independents two.

In Nuneaton & Bedworth, Labour won 14 of 17 seats that were contested, gaining five, to give a total of 28 out of 34 seats.

The Conservatives lost four, to leave them with three, with the Green Party and an independent having the remaining seats.