There was no repeat of last years drama when then council leader Bryn Sidaway lost his Hendon seat by only two votes.
But the Conservatives won the seat yet again, this time with a much bigger majority, and once again snatched the Roker/Fulwell sea
t of St Peters, where Bob Christie lost his seat to James Wynn.
Former Liberal Democrat leader John Lennox lost his gamble of switching seats from Thornholme to St Peters.
Former mayoress Gillian Galbraith lost out to Janice Morrissey in Hendon by almost 200 votes, with Monster Raving Loony candidate Rosalyn Warner polling more votes than the British National Partys David Guynan.
The Tory group now numbers 10 members on the city council, though Labour still holds a massive majority.
Council leader Coun Colin Anderson admitted it had been a "very disappointing" night for the Labour party.
But he added: "The margins were reasonably close and both wards were fought extremely hard.
"Also, having a Liberal Demcorat at St Peters did us no good. He took votes from both parties, probably more from Labour than Tory."
Coun Anderson admitted both Hendon and St Peters were marginal seats that were merely returning to the Tories after some years of being held by Labour.
He added: "Remember, a few years ago we were winning in Fulwell. The Tory Party is getting back some of its ground but its far from being the force it was even 10 years ago."
Conservative group leader Coun Margaret Forbes said: "I put this down to people registering their resentment of the fact that the Labour council isnt listening to them.
"Labour has enjoyed a very large majority and I consider it has abused it, but the only people who have the power to change anything are individual people."
Mr Lennox was philosophical about the end of his local political career. He said: "There are other things to do apart from being a councillor and I would like other people to become involved.
"I dont think people should stand for a lifetime because sometimes you get stale."
Garry Dent won Mr Lennoxs old Thornholme seat safely to keep it in Liberal Democrat hands.
RESULTS
CASTLETOWN
Michael Clare (Lab)
Unopposed
Lab hold
CENTRAL
Paul Ingham (Con) - 386
John Keith Jackson (Lib) - 267
Kevin OConnor (Lab) - 925
Turnout 19.5%
Lab hold
COLLIERY
John David Stuart Brown (Con) - 637
Norma Wright (Lab) - 863
Turnout 20.64%
Lab hold
EPPLETON
Juliana Heron (Lab) - 1146
David Weatherell Wilson (Con) - 652
Turnout 19.62%
Lab hold
FULWELL
George Edward Howe (Con) - 1776
Michael William Nuttall (Lab) - 746
Turnout 30.56%
Con hold
GRINDON
Kathryn Chamberlin (Con) - 484
David Francis Thompson (Lab) - 813
Turnout 18.8%
Lab hold
HENDON
Gillian Edith Galbraith (Lab) - 1082
David Edward Guynan (BNP) - 82
Janice Caroline Morrissey (Con) - 1213
Rosalyn Warner (MRL) - 108
Turnout 30.5%
Con gain
HETTON
Alice Miller McLaren (Con) - 407
Clement James Simpson (Lab) - 1133
Turnout 17.17%
Lab hold
HOUGHTON
David Robert Andrew Francis (Con) - 365
Eric John OHara (Lab) - 1364
Turnout 21.48%
Lab hold
PALLION
Stephen David Spencer Daughton (Con) - 888
Mary Smith (Lab) - 1075
Ronald Smith (IND) - 253
Turnout 26.11%
Lab hold
RYHOPE
Ronald Bainbridge (Lab) - 1350
Kathleen Anne Irvine (Con) - 550
Turnout 18.3%
Lab hold
ST CHADS
Charles Edward Bate (Lab) - 1125
George Edward Brown (Con) - 1013
Turnout 25.8%
Lab hold
ST MICHAELS
David John Marshall (Lab) - 763
Anthony Morrissey (Con) - 1990
Turnout 31.6%
Con hold
ST PETERS
Robert Christie (Lab) - 700
John Anthony Lennox (Lib) - 673
James Edward Wynn (Con) - 1018
Turnout28.95%
Con gain
SHINEY ROW
Justin Matthew Garrod (Con) - 550
Melville George Speding (Lab) - 1282
Turnout 17.42%
Lab hold
SILKSWORTH
Gregory Coates (Con) - 603
John Donnelly (Lab) - 1455
Turnout21.4%
Lab hold
SOUTH HYLTON
Michael Dixon (Con) - 462
Paul Watson (Lab) - 815
Turnout 17%
Lab hold
SOUTHWICK
Margaret Higgins (Lab) - 901
Geoffrey Michael Pryke (Lib) - 348
Turnout 18.73%
Lab hold
THORNEY CLOSE
Neville Edward Chamberlin (Con) - 223
Joseph Dobbie (BNP) - 104
Ian Macadam Galbraith (Lab) - 817
Georgina Kennedy (Lib) - 189
Turnout 17.2%
Lab hold
THORNHOLME
Garry Quantrill Dent (Lib) - 1009
Andrew Graham Forbes (Con) - 281
John Stuart Porthouse (Lab) - 486
Turnout 22.36%
Lib hold
TOWN END FARM
Robert Symonds (Lab)
Unopposed
Lab hold
WASHINGTON EAST
Jacqueline Adele Atkinson (Con) - 522
Avril Lynda Kitching (Lib) - 420
Denis Gerard Whalen (Lab) - 1136
Turnout 18.1%
Lab hold
WASHINGTON NORTH
John Scott Bedlington (Lab)
Unopposed
Lab hold
WASHINGTON SOUTH
Walter Scott (Lab) - 1324
Robert Sharp (Con) - 847
Turnout 15.4%
Lab hold
WASHINGTON WEST
Anne Elphinstone (Con) - 444
Henry Trueman (Lab) - 1006
Turnout 15.6%
Lab hold
KEY:
BNP - British National Party
Con - Conservative
Lab - Labour
Lib - Liberal Democrat
MRL - Monster Raving Loony Party
