Coun Susan Dungworth, who lost out in the Hartley ward by a majority of 227 to Liberal Democrat Anita Romer, said that former Labour councillor David Montgomery stood as an Independent candidate in the seat to take Labour voters away from herself.

Coun Dungworth got 600 votes and Coun Montgomery 430.

"We have worked very hard, and knew that it was a very difficult time nationally for the Labour party," she said.

"Having an ex-Labour councillor standing as an Independent candidate has taken the Labour voters onto a platform and influenced the outcome in this ward.

"He would never have been elected for the ward, and he knew that.

"I think he has robbed people of the representation that they wanted from Labour.

"He knew he couldn't win, so he has purely done it to stop his former colleagues being elected."

Coun Montgomery was not present at Blyth Sports Centre for the election results on Friday, but hit back at Coun Dungworth's comments afterwards, and said: "She is entitled to her opinion.

"But she has to look at her own performance, and look at herself rather than just blame people like me.

"It's so easy to blame people like myself for their own failings.

"This election has been a complete disaster for the Labour party in Northumberland.

"The party as a whole should be looking at reasons why it has performed so badly across the country as a whole, not just Northumberland.

"Is that my fault as well?"

Coun Anita Romer, who won with 827 votes, expressed her disappointment at the comments made by Coun Dungworth.

"I think it's a very bitter statement on her part, and there's absolutely no proof that that's why Coun Montgomery stood," she said.

"This is a democratic society, and people have the right to stand if they wish."

Speaking about her own win, Coun Romer said people voted for her because she fulfilled what her voters asked her to do.

"When I was asked for my help, I was there immediately, and because of that people have voted for me," she added.