LIBERAL Democrat Jim Cairney has been elected as the new county councillor for Crediton.

The restaurateur succeeds the late Frank Letch MBE, also a Liberal Democrat, who died at the age of 80 on April 8.

Cllr Cairney, who is also a district and town councillor, secured 1,259 votes, 35.5 per cent of the total ballots cast.

Reform UK candidate Charles Beazley came second with 869 votes, ahead of Conservative Angus Howie, who secured 602.

In fourth place was Labour candidate Paul Vincent with 423 votes, followed by Green candidate Rob Rickey with 333.

In last place was Wesley Mitchell of the Heritage Party with 52 votes.

Voter turnout was 33.2 per cent, much lower than in previous years.

The Liberal Democrats have held the Crediton division, which covers Crediton, Copplestone, Bow, Cheriton Bishop and Venny Tedburn, since 2005.

“I would first like to thank everybody here at the count for the way that it was conducted and all the other candidates who took part in this election,” Cllr Cairney said after the result was announced.

“We had a really good, clean contest where everybody spoke the truth and acted in very good honour as well.

“I would also like to say many thanks to Frank Letch, who was the standing candidate at this division.

“I believe that I have benefitted of his many hard years of work and diligence in working for the community.”

In the local area, the Liberal Democrats and Reform UK made big gains, reflecting a seismic countywide and nationwide shift away from the Conservatives and Labour.

The Lib Dems took Creedy, Taw and Mid Exe, which had previously been held by the Conservatives. Reform UK came second in the seat, the Conservative Party third, and Labour last.

Steve Keable is the new county councillor for the large division, which covers Newton St Cyres, Thorverton, Silverton, Bickleigh, Cheriton Fitzpaine, Morchard Bishop, Chawleigh, Coldridge, Zeal Monachorum and Down St Mary.

The Lib Dems also held onto Exminster and Haldon, which includes Whitestone, and poached Chulmleigh and Landkey, Tiverton West, the Chudleigh and Teign Valley seat, which includes Tedburn St Mary, and the Torrington Rural division, which includes Winkleigh, from the Conservatives.

Meanwhile, Reform UK took the South Molton division, which includes Witheridge and East Worlington, the Hatherleigh and Chagford seat, which includes North Tawton, Spreyton and Sampford Courtenay, and Tiverton East from the Conservatives.

Across Devon, the Conservatives lost as many as 33 councillors, wiping out their majority at the county council after 16 years in power.

It was also a bad day for the Labour party, which lost all seven of its seats.

The biggest party at Devon County Council is now the Liberal Democrats with 27 councillors elected, just short of an overall majority, meaning they may need the support of other parties to wield control.

The next largest is Reform UK with 18 councillors, followed by the Conservatives with seven and the Greens with six. There are also two independent councillors.

How long the newly elected councillors will be in post is uncertain, given that Devon County Council will likely cease to exist soon amid a local government overhaul.

The government wants to abolish the county and district council system currently in place in most of Devon and create new large “unitary” councils.