IT has been an exciting evening of counting for the Crediton Lawrence ward of Mid Devon District Council seat and it has proved to be a close contest but there is one winner - Liberal Democrat Tim Stanford.

He received 540 votes, beating Andy Hankins for Reform UK, who achieved 226 votes. Terence Joseph Edwards for the Labour Party received 66 votes.

There were 11 rejected papers and the turnout was 22.1 per cent.

Mr Stanford said following his election: “I would like to thank all the staff working here tonight.

“I will do my utmost to work extremely hard for the electorate of Lawrence ward. Thank you to everyone who voted for me.”

The seat on Mid Devon District 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.

The Liberal Democrats drafted in many supporters to help with their campaign, including Richard Foord, the MP for Tiverton and Sidmouth who knocked on doors in Crediton during the day.

Mr Stanford is also standing for the vacant Crediton Town Council seat made vacant by the sad passing of Frank Letch.

Prior to the election Mr Stanford said: “I’ve lived here for 18 years with my wife and children. Over that time, I’ve rolled up my sleeves and been deeply involved in our community – from youth football and the sea cadets to volunteering as a school governor and supporting community radio.

“Simply, this is my home, and I want it to thrive. Importantly, I am the only [district] candidate who lives in the Lawrence Ward of Crediton.

“There are three challenges we need to address: continuing delivering more genuinely affordable, energy-efficient homes so local people aren’t priced out of Crediton; supporting our high street with grants for small businesses, creating better local jobs; and making sure taxpayers’ money is spent fairly and wisely – where it’s needed most.

“If I’m elected to both Crediton Town Council and Mid Devon District Council, I want to be a strong voice for our local economy – championing small traders, independent retailers, and the people who work so hard to keep our high street alive.”

Results of the Town Council election are due to be announced within the next hour.