Transport & General Union shop steward Steve Hall is the new Labour councillor for Heckmondwike, taking over from the BNP's David Exley, cutting the far-Right party's presence on the council to two.

Coun Hall – wearing a Hope Not Hate badge on his lapel – said he believed voters were "starting to see through the BNP".

Mr Exley said he was "gutted" to lose to Labour when it was clear they were struggling elsewhere.

The Conservatives overtook Labour as the main party on the council, with 22 members to Labour's 21.

Tory leader of the council Robert Light was delighted with his party's two gains in Kirklees, one from Labour and one from an independent.

Coun Light said: "We are now the largest party and we have by far the largest popular vote.

"We took just over 31 per cent of the vote, up eight per cent on last year. We have a clear five per cent lead over Labour, who took 26 per cent of the vote."

Coun Light put the party's success down to David Cameron and to the Tory leadership of Kirklees "making a difference to people's lives".

The Liberal Democrats took one extra seat when they beat Labour's Peter McBride in the Dalton ward of Huddersfield, taking the Lib Dems' tally to 19.

The Greens remained on four seats.

The Tories won their extra two seats in Denby Dale (beating Labour) and in Holme Valley North, beating an independent.

The BNP's Nick Cass polled 967 votes in the Mirfield ward, way behind popular Tory councillor Martyn Bolt on 3,400 votes.

The Greens held the Newsome ward with 1,942 votes and Lib Dem leader Kath Pinnock held Cleckheaton, taking 2,425 votes.

And in Dewsbury East, Labour's Paul Kane kept his seat with a 623 majority over the BNP's Alan Girvan.

Labour group leader Mehboob Khan easily retained his Greenhead ward.