Before (end of 1977) (69 seats, Elections Centre)
Conservative 43 · Labour 20 · Other 4 · The Liberal Party 2
After (end of 1978) (69 seats, Elections Centre)
Conservative 45 · Labour 23 · The Liberal Party 1 · Other 0
Ward results
Astley Bridge1 seat
| D. Shepherd | Conservative | 2,685 |
| L. Hesketh | Labour | 794 |
| M. Powell | LIB | 147 |
Horwich1 seat
| R. Parkinson | Conservative | 2,184 |
| A. Oakley | Labour | 1,951 |
No. 2 (Darcy Lever Cum Breightmet)1 seat · turnout 37.5%
| D. Dingwall | Labour | 2,585 |
| J. Whittingham | Conservative | 2,439 |
| N. Duffield | Soc Unity | 83 |