Somerset Council by-election: Lib Dems win Somerton seat

Stephen Page was elected to the two-seat Somerton division on Somerset Council

The Liberal Democrats have won a council by-election after the sudden death of a Somerset councillor.

Called after the death of councillor Dean Ruddle in January, the polls opened for voters on Thursday.

Stephen Page won with 1,212 votes to take the vacant seat in the Somerton division on Somerset Council.

Lib Dem MP for Somerton and Frome Sarah Dyke said the "superb win" was a "fitting tribute" to Mr Ruddle, a "much missed friend and colleague".

The other candidates were David Hall for the Conservatives (878 votes), who is a former Somerset County Council cabinet member, Gregory Chambers for Labour (174 votes) and Matthew Geen for the Green Party (154 votes).

Somerset Council said the voting turnout was 27.8%.