The battle for control of Allerdale Council is now underway - with high-level talks set to take place between political groups to decide who will run the authority going forward.

Voters across the borough have completely changed the political make-up of the council.

The big winners on the night were independent councillors who took 19 seats, however, the largest political party on the council is now the Conservatives who took 15 seats.

Labour - who held 27 seats before Thursday’s election - were left with 14 councillors and new party Putting Cumbria First made history by securing their first councillor. The number of councillors shrunk from 56 to 49 due to the boundary review.

With no overall majority attention now turns to how the new leadership will be made up. A total of at least 25 seats would be needed to form a majority alliance.

Tony Annison, leader of the Conservative group and ward councillor for Warnell, said his party would be meeting last night to discuss a way forward.

“What we will do is discuss talking to the various groups among the new set of councillors,” he said.

“What we want is a mandate from the group to carry out negotiations. Everyone will have their say about how they want the leadership to go forward.

“We want to hit the ground running. There’s lots to discuss.”

Mr Annison added: “I promised Alan Smith [Labour leader] we would talk to him... Stephen Stoddart [Independent] as well, and the other independents.

“There are philosophical differences and there are uncomfortable talks to be had. But we have to be realistic, Allerdale has to come first. Somebody has got to run Allerdale Council very quickly and effectively. It has to be all agreed and sustainably run.”

Mr Annison said talks would need to be held about the new stadium for Workington.

He added his party was not opposed to the project, however they had always pushed for decisions to be made after the elections.

Mr Stoddart, representing the Moorclose and Moss Bay ward, said independents were open to talks with parties.

He said: “We need to have some serious discussions in the next few weeks. There have been no discussions yet about a potential leader.”

David King, a spokesman for the New Independent Group who won two seats, said the group had already had talks with other independents and Conservative leaders before the election.

“We have no problem sitting down for talks with Mark Jenkinson [deputy Conservative leader] and Mr Annison to talk about the issue of forming an alliance.”

Mr Smith, who was re-elected to represent the All Saints ward in Cockermouth, said a low turnout had been expected at this election.

“We have lost 11 councillors, 11 very experienced councillors. We have been punished, but I don’t know why,” he said.

“My phone is on, if people want to talk to me I will talk to them. I will talk to anybody.

“I will look at anything if it will benefit the people.”

Mr Smith added he was not disappointed not to continue as leader.

“I’ve been leader for eight years, I lived the dream and I’ve got a legacy which is this leisure centre.”

The final result came in at 6.40am.