Green Party's Clare Sutton wins first seat on Dorset County Council

Clare Sutton (centre) celebrated her win with fellow Green Party members Anne Clements and Caz Dennett

The Green Party has won its first seat on Dorset County Council following a by-election in Weymouth.

Clare Sutton took the Rodwell ward with 663 votes, beating the Conservative candidate into second place with a majority of 102.

Ms Sutton described her victory as a "very positive vote".

She said she had campaigned on issues including air pollution on Boot Hill in Weymouth as well as cuts to youth services.

"[The cuts] send out a dreadful message in terms of who we are concerned about in our society - these are the people who will be looking after Dorset in 20, 30 years time," she said.

The Rodwell ward was previously held by Labour's Dan Brember, who stepped down at the end of September.

Dorset County Council is now made up 27 Conservatives, 12 Liberal Democrats, four Labour, one UK Independent and one Green Party.

The Greens won 4.7% of the vote in last year's general election in Dorset South.