It was another emphatic night for Labour in Sunderland as the party maintained its strong hold on the council, with the Liberal Democrats officially becoming the main opposition party.
The results were finalised at Silksworth Community Pool, Tennis and Wellness Centre at around 1.30am on Friday, with Labour making valuable gains in the three wards of Barnes, Ryhope, and St Anne's to secure 16 seats on the council. The Liberal Democrats made a huge gain in the Fulwell ward - taking a seat in place of the Conservative Party's James Doyle, who had did not stand to be re-elected.
It was a jubilant night for the Lib Dems, who secured five seats on the council and are officially the main opposition party, as opposed to the Conservative's three seats on the night. The Fulwell seat was gained by Cllr Peter Arnold Walton, who secured 1,879 votes.
