As David Cameron’s car drew up outside a church in Bury yesterday, the heavens opened. But there was no dampening the spirits of Conservative councillors and supporters after their party took control of the council for the first time in 22 years.

While Labour came to terms with the loss of three seats to the Tories and one to the Liberal Democrats in the Greater Manchester town, Mr Cameron’s party prepared to welcome their leader outside Bury Parish Church.

The arrival was also greeted with enthusiasm by residents. “I think it’s excellent that the Tories have gained control of the council,” Pauline Evans, 69, said. “We need a change. I hope that the Conservatives will start to improve things like education in Bury.”

Standing on a bench, Mr Cameron made a speech in the shadow of a statue of Sir Robert Peel, Bury’s most famous son, whom he described as “the man who really founded the modern Conservative Party”.

He told the crowd of about 100 people: “They said we couldn’t win seats in councils in the North of England, and here in Bury we’ve shown the way. It was a really magnificent campaign.”

Bob Bibby, the Conservative leader of the council, looked tired but elated with his party’s change of fortune in the North West. “David Cameron has changed the party and has it made more acceptable to the people of Bury. That north-south divide has been chiselled away, and we will get even better gains in the future,” he said.

Ivan Lewis, Labour MP for Bury South and Minister for Care Services, who during the campaign accused the Government of being out of touch, repeated his message that Labour needed to start reconnecting with people. “We have got to reassure people that we are still on their side,” he said. “We can’t afford to be complacent. There needs to be a serious examination of what took place in Bury. This was a verdict on the Westminster team.”

David Chaytor, Labour MP for Bury North, a key marginal, said: “We are all extremely disappointed but we will start the fightback as soon as we can.”

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