The party increased its number of seats from 38 to 43, making critical gains in Eye & Thorney, Paston, Walton and Werrington South.

The night's biggest losers were the Independent group, with ex-mayors David Raines and John Bartlett, who had chalked up 33 years of council experience between them, losing their town hall seats.

See all the 2008 results and a map showing all your local councillors: peterboroughtoday.co.uk/ election2008
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Earlier, a roar had greeted a tight Labour victory in Central ward, while council leader Cllr John Peach and deputy leader Cllr Stephen Goldspink were safely re-elected.

The night ended on an emotional note as new Werrington South Cllr Colin Burton dedicated his victory to his late wife Linda who died after a battle with pancreatic cancer on April 1.

He said: "It means everything. Linda might not be here, but she has kept me going. I couldn't have done it without her."

The first victor of the night was Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Nick Sandford, who secured the most votes in Walton, while Conservative Cllr Charles Day won a bye-election in the same ward.

Cllr Day's election sparked a flurry of Conservative success, with five consecutive triumphs in Ravensthorpe, Orton with Hampton, Bretton North, Orton Longueville and East.

Independent Cllr John Fox then won an overwhelming victory in Werrington North, but that was to be the highlight of the group's night.

John Bartlett took his defeat to former council beadle Cllr Ray Dobbs in Eye & Thorney on the chin, but David Raines didn't stay around to hear that he had come third in Werrington South.

Paying tribute to his colleagues, Cllr Fox said: "Peterborough has lost two councillors who are full of integrity. I feel we will rue the day that we lost two men of such calibre."

Earlier Mr Raines had predicted that the outcome in Werrington South would be tight, while Mr Bartlett said: "I'm disappointed, but there's life after politics."

Meanwhile, Labour activists were celebrating victory in Central ward 10 minutes before returning officer Gillian Beasley announced the results.

Labour's Cllr Nazim Khan, a Central ward councillor between 1996 and 2002, polled 189 more votes than the Conservative candidate Shaukat Ali, making Central the only Labour gain and Conservative loss of the night.

Cllr Khan said: "I was the better candidate. Experience counts and it is a sweet return."

Colin Caborn's attempt to retain former Labour leader John Bleakney's seat in Paston ended in failure, meaning Labour now only have councillors in one ward out of 24.

Cllr Irene Walsh then convincingly won Stanground Central, despite a strong challenge from Independent candidate Chris York.

Following his defeat, Mr York said: "I will come bouncing back 10 times harder.