Lib Dems secure two seats in council by-election

Cara Strom (centre) is the new councillor for Dunster

The Liberal Democrats have secured two seats on Somerset Council.

A by-election was called after Conservative councillor for Dunster Christine Lawrence stepped down due to ill health in September and Lib Dem councillor for Glastonbury Nick Cottle died in August.

Voters went to the polls on Thursday and Cara Strom won the Dunster seat with 1,142 votes. Ewan Cameron held the seat for the Lib Dems in Glastonbury after receiving 882 votes.

Ms Strom said she would do all she could to "ensure local voices are heard loud and clear".

"We are working with the cards that have been handed to us by government, and under challenging conditions we continue to do our best to deliver for local people," she added.

The other candidates for the Dunster seat were Jonathan Rollason for Reform UK (666 votes), James Bellamy for the Conservatives (449 votes) and Terrence Ledlie for Labour (44 votes).

For Glastonbury, the other candidates were Henry Warne for Reform (523 votes), Lillith Osborn for the Conservatives (506 votes), Jonathon Cousins for the Green Party (480 votes) and Gregory Chambers for Labour (35 votes).

The turnout was 32.2% for the Dunster seat and 33.5% for the Glastonbury seat.