CRUCIAL mayoral elections on May 13 will decide which party takes control of Barrow Borough council after local elections delivered a stalemate.

Just one Labour gain in Parkside from the Conservatives saw the party reach a total of 19 seats at Thursday's council elections.

Labour now matches the tally of the Tory ruling alliance with the Independent and Peoples Party.

The battle now is for the mayor who is elected by councillors , who will have the casting vote.

In Dalton South, Conservative Gordon Murray was re-elected with a small majority of 72.

Meanwhile Labour held on to Dalton North with its candidate Denis Bell who replaces long-serving councillor Margaret Martindale who stood down.