It was no change for Barnet Council following the 'super Thursday' by-elections last week.

No seats changed hands but despite a low turnout and voter apathy all three main political parties managed to claim some degree of success.

The results could never have changed the balance of the council run by a Lib/Lab coalition but party officials used them as pointers to forthcoming elections.

Sean Hooker retained Mill Hill, vacated by the resignation of Roger Axworthy, for the Liberal Democrats with nearly 55 per cent of the vote. Wendy Prentice won former Tory leader Liz Mammatt's Hadley seat for the Conservatives with 58 per cent of the vote Miss Mammatt did not attend the count. And Conservative Vanessa Gearson held the Garden Suburb seat, vacated by the resignation of Tory Peter Skolar, with 47 per cent of the vote.

As if to prove the old adage about statistics, each party produced slightly different figures for swings of popularity.

Labour calculated a two per cent swing of support to the Tories. However, council leader Alan Williams said: "The results point to Labour holding both the Finchley and Hendon seats at the general election as well as keeping the Tories out of the Town Hall in 18 months time."

Tory leader Victor Lyon described the results a vote of confidence for his party: "They reinforce my view that the Conservatives will regain control of Barnet in 2002," he added.

Liberal Democrat leader Monroe Palmer also pronounced himself well-pleased with his party's results.