VOTERS have today, Thursday, June 26, been casting their ballots in two council by-elections in Crediton.

The seats on Mid Devon District Council and Crediton Town Council became available following the death of Councillor Frank Letch MBE at the age of 80 on April 8.

Cllr Letch, a Liberal Democrat, represented the Crediton Lawrence ward at the district council for 10 years and was chairman of the local authority when he died. He became a town councillor in 2004 and was Crediton’s mayor for 13 years.

Cllr Letch was also the town’s county councillor, a role that was filled in May when fellow Liberal Democrat Jim Cairney won the seat in the local elections.

Three candidates stood in the district council by-election are Terence Joseph Edwards for the Labour Party, Andy Hankins for Reform UK, and Tim Stanford for the Liberal Democrats.

In the town council by-election, Tim Stanford is again the Liberal Democrats’ candidate, and Gary Stanley is standing as an independent.

The boxes have now arrived at Phoenix House at Tiverton, where the election count is underway.

The results are expected within the next hour or two.