Conservative parliamentary candidate Richard Harrington has been elected to represent the people of Watford.

Mr Harrington, whose victory was greeted by rapturous cheering at this morning’s heavily delayed count inside the Colosseum, ousted incumbent Labour MP Claire Ward, who was beaten into third place by Liberal Democrat rival Sal Brinton.

The results recorded by the three main party candidates, based on a turnout of 68.55 per cent, were as follows:

  • Richard Harrington (Conservative): 19,291
  • Sal Brinton (Liberal Democrat): 17,866
  • Claire Ward (Labour): 14,750

The other three candidates received the following number of votes:

  • Dr Andrew Emerson (BNP): 1,217
  • Graham Eardley (UKIP): 1,199
  • Ian Brandon (Green): 885

Mr Harrington, wearing a broad smile as his victory was announced, thanked voters for a decision that makes him the first Conservative to win an election in the town since 1992.