Liberal Democrat candidate Helen Lynch won yesterday’s Central Ward by-election after a close fight with Labour’s Fred Grindrod.

Councillor Lynch, who acquired a taste for politics as chairman of the Queen’s Road Community Action Group, received 696 votes – 74 more than her nearest rival.

Turnout was 24.6 per cent.

The full results were as follows: Dan Channing (UK Independence Party) 24; Youseffe Fahmy (Conservatives) 158; Fred Grindrod (Labour Party) 622; Helen Lynch (Liberal Democrats) 696 ELECTED; Dorothy Nixon (Green Party) 79.