Elections: Conservatives keep seat after cancer death

Christopher Middleton polled 1,213 votes to beat four other candidates standing in the Sitwell ward in Rotherham.

Labour's Judy Dalton came second with 864 votes, independent candidate David Ridgway polled 252 votes, UKIP candidate John Wilkinson took 241 votes and Abdul Razaq, for the Liberal Democrats, had 98 votes.

The vacancy arose on Rotherham Council following the death of Conservative councillor Michael Clarke who died two months ago aged 78, from prostate cancer.

The by-election result is in stark contrast to metropolitan council contests last month in Walsall and Wolverhampton, which showed double digit swings to Labour.