But after the results were announced, the East Retford councillor accused the opposition of waging a dirty personal attack on him.

"I must have been accused of doing everything but murder someone," said Coun Quigley.

"A dirty campaign was fought in my ward and there was a lot of rubbish information distributed by the other candidates. It just shows that these sort of lies don't work."

It was a clear victory for Coun Quigley who has led the council for four years. He took 1,145 votes with the Labour candidate Robert Clyndes receiving a 470-vote share. Former Conservative turned Independent, Michael Jenkins, receiving 422 votes.

The Conservatives have held on to eight seats in Bassetlaw and snatched two from Labour in Worksop North and East Retford North.

But those Labour's losses were set against two gains. In Harworth, former Independent David Challinor secured 1,009 votes. In Worksop East, newly-elected councillor John Scott ousted Independent Geoff Coe.

The embittered Mr Coe would not accept Coun Scott's handshake after the results were announced and suggested 'skulduggery' had been at play.

It is a first time success for Mr Scott, who is a staunch union man formerly working for the NUM (National Union of Mineworkers) and UNISON.

There were only 82 votes in it with Labour's John Scott taking 663 and Independents Geoff Coe and Geoff Hurst with 581 and 357 respectively.

"It is absolutely ludicrous," he said. "The fact that there were two Independents pitched against the other weakened the vote. I am sure the other 'Independent' was a Labour plant and I only shake hands with genuine people."

"If he is a better man than me then well done. But I will be watching him closely."

Graham Oxby, leader of the Labour Party, dismissed this claim as rubbish and said Mr Hurst had as much right to stand as anyone else.

"As far as we are aware in the Labour Party, no-one knew this individual," he said. "I am not getting into a war of words with Geoff Coe - and the same goes for Mike Quigley. He is the last person who should be accusing people of dirty tricks."

Coun Ivor Jones was the only Independent to hold onto his seat for the Worksop North West ward, who took 961 seats against the 604 secured by Robin Carrington-Wilde.

"I am absolutely delighted," he said. "The political parties work to their own agenda and it's not good for the electorate. I am going to be strongly watching the planning applications of Bassetlaw because central Government has made the local authorities speed the process up - this is not good for democracy."

The Conservative Party now hold 30 seats, with Labour retaining their 16 seats and the Independents have two seats.

This year one third of Bassetlaw Council seats were up for grabs. And of the 16 seats available in the district, 15 were being contested.

Coun Graham Oxby said he was pleased the party was now in no worse position, but described losing two seats as a sad occasion.

"We have to face the fact that Labour have done very poor nationally, but in Bassetlaw we have done reasonably well, and for that I thank the voters in the district," he said.

"I very much regret the loss of Phil Skelding in Retford South," he added. "He is a supremely intelligent and active man and has done a lot of work for the people of Retford. He will be sorely missed."

To see a breakdown of this year's election results, click here.