Local elections: Simon Hughes defends Lib Dem results

Liberal Democrats have "held their ground" in a number of county elections - despite a poor result in the South Shields by-election, the party's deputy leader has said.

Simon Hughes told BBC Breakfast that parties in government were often punished in by-elections.

The Lib Dem's share of the vote in South Shields dropped form 14% to 1%. Their candidate, Hugh Annand, finished seventh with just 352 votes, and lost his deposit.