LABOUR has increased its number of Lewisham Council seats from 26 to 38 and nearly wiped out the Green party with five councillors losing their seats.

Councillor Darren Johnson was the only Green survivor while the Socialist Alternative party also lost its two seats in New Cross' Telegraph ward.

Conservatives have been left to sweat as votes for their three remaining Grove Park council seats will be re-counted tomorrow (May11)

On Friday Sir Steve Bullock stormed to another Lewisham Labour victory - this time in the mayoral election.

He secured a majority of 16,085 over the Lib Dems' Cllr Chris Maines.

Speaking after hearing the good news, Sir Steve said tackling youth violence was a top priority for his new term.

Last week a 16-year-old boy was reportedly stabbed and beaten to death in Sydenham, and a 21-year-old man shot dead in New Cross.

Sir Steve said the situation was "urgent" and added: "We still haven't got it across to some young people in this borough the risks they are taking.

"We are all going to have to look at how we can get that message cross better in the future."

Local Election results

Labour - 38 seats

Lib Dem - 12 seats

Green - 1

Conservative - 0 seats*

*Three seats in Grove Park ward (currently held by the Conservatives) are due to be re-counted tomorrow.

Mayoral Election

Steve Bullock (Labour) - 52, 531 votes

Chris Maines (Lib Dem) - 36, 446

Simon Nundy (Conservative) - 16, 276

Dean Walton (Green) - 6, 560

John Hamilton (Community Need Before Private Greed) - 5, 964

Tess Culnane (BNP) - 2, 904

Graham Dare (English Democrats) - 1559