THE Liberal Democrat Party has held onto the vacant South Ward seat in Melksham following the tragic death of the party’s town councillor Andy Hinchcliffe last year.

Liberal Democrat Vanessa Fiorelli topped the poll with 285 votes with Matthew James Snook, the Conservative Party candidate in second place on 258 votes.

Judith Gradwell, the Labour Party candidate, was third with 183 votes and independent Bruce Malcolm Petty came last with 130 votes.

In all, 858 residents voted out of an electorate of 4,975 – a turnout of just 17.23 per cent. Two people spoiled their ballot papers by voting for more than one candidate.

Ms Fiorelli, the branch manager for Trowbridge Post Office, won the seat by just 27 votes.

Melksham mayor, Cllr Adrienne Westbrook said: “We are delighted to have held onto the seat, but obviously saddened by the reasons for the by-election.

“It was a good, clean fight between all four parties and was the first time that we have had a four-way fight for the seat in a long time. We are delighted that the residents have supported the Liberal Democrats and our vision for Melksham.”

Cllr Andy Hinchcliffe, 68, represented Melksham South Ward for the Liberal Democrats. He died on September 27 2017 after several years of ill-health.