EIGHTEEN-YEAR-OLD Lyle Davy could be the youngest councillor in Britain after being elected to serve Coates ward in Barnoldswick.

The Conservative took the Coates seat from the Lib Dems and party officials say he is the youngest council representative in the country.

Mr Davy narrowly defeated incumbent Lindsay Gaskell 700 votes to 651, and easily outpaced Labour's Lynn Harrison (170 votes) and the Blue Party's Kieron Hartley (89).

Coun David Whipp (Lib Dem), who has served on Pendle Council since 1980, easily held his seat in Barnoldswick's Craven ward, beating his nearest rival by more than 400 votes.

Coun Whipp had 761 votes, outdistancing Conservative Mike Thompson with 352, UKIP's Dorothy Baxter (261), Labour's Denzil Metcalfe (140) and the Blue Party's Natasha Harris (24).

Mike Goulthorp defended Earby for the Conservatives, where Chris Tennant stepped down after serving the ward for nearly 15 years.

Mr Goulthorp coasted to victory with 734 votes, beating his closest rival, Labour's David Byrne, who had 453 votes. James Jackman, representing the Blue Party, tallied 353 votes while Doris Haigh (Lib Dem) had 226.

Mr Davy's win will also tip the balance on the West Craven Area Committee, where the Conservatives' five councillors will wrest control from the Lib Dems, who now have four.