PEDMORE councillor Les Jones has taken over as acting leader of Dudley Council after a shock election result.

Dudley leader and Gornal councillor Anne Millward lost her seat by two votes after two recounts - leaving her deputy, Cllr Jones, in charge.

The Conservative group, which has also lost cabinet member David Simms, will now hold a ballot on Monday to select a new full-time leader.

Cllr Jones confirmed he would be putting his name forward for the job and paid tribute to his ex-boss.

Cllr Jones said: “It is a shock but as leader she was always going to be a target.

“She worked very hard for the borough and brought a particular style of pragmatism, we need more people and politicians like her.

“Results haven’t fundamentally changed the shape of Dudley Council and we are on the right course.”

Liberal Democrats in Stourbridge paid a high price for national unpopularity with their share of the vote cut and the loss of their only seat on Dudley Council.

The Stourbridge Town Hall count delivered no major shocks with the Conservative and Labour parties sharing the spoils.

Mohammed Hanif held Lye for Labour, as did Richard Body in Cradley and Wollescote while Jackie Cowell won in Quarry Bank and Dudley Wood, also for Labour.

Tories Heather Rogers (Norton), Ian Kettle, (Pedmore and Stourbridge East), Margaret Cowell (Wollaston and Stourbridge Town) and Pat Martin (Amblecote) all held their seats.

Defeated Norton Lib Dem candidate Chris Bramall said he was disappointed with his party’s results both locally and nationally but urged the party not to reject their leader Nick Clegg.