Tories regain council seat as senior figure returns to political fray

A familiar face is heading back into the West Norfolk Council chamber following a fresh electoral triumph.

Conservative Vivienne Spikings polled more than 2,000 votes in the Upwell and Delph ward by-election, the result of which was declared early this morning.

And she hailed the "team effort" which led to her victory as she observed: "I've never had 2,000 votes before."

Mrs Spikings, a former cabinet member and planning committee chairman stood down from the borough council at May's local elections.

But she said the sudden resignation of former councillor David Pope in October, following revelations about his nomination papers at that poll, brought her "out of retirement" to contest the seat once more.

She said: "I've had a lot of help and I'm here to help everybody."

She also revelled in the General Election results which saw the Conservatives win their biggest Commons majority in more than 30 years.

She told supporters: "We can really see this country being changed for the better."

Mrs Spikings' victory also increases the Conservatives' majority on the council to three. They now have 29 of the 55 seats, having clung to power by the narrowest of margins in May.

The full results of the poll were: Vivienne Spikings (Conservative), 2,126 votes, Stewart Dickson (Labour) 637, Terry Hipsey (Independent) 438.