MALVERN Town Action Group candidate Pat Merrick has been voted into Malvern Town Coun-cil's vacant Langland ward seat after a controversial by-election last week.

Just 6.7 percent of voters turned out on Thursday, October 31, after Coun Merrick's opponent, independent candidate Philip Guest, pulled out of the race on Monday, October 14.

However, his withdrawal came too late and his name was listed on the ballot paper.

The final result saw Coun Merrick win by 239 votes to 70. She thanked the voters and her opponent, but was disappointed by the turnout, the lowest since 1999.

"It's very difficult to represent people when you feel they have little interest in what's going on," she said.

"I shall do my best to carry out my promise to try and make the town council more efficient, less cumbersome and less of a laughing stock. There should be less of this snide back biting all the time. I just hope we get some straight talking and get something done."

The seat was left vacant following the resignation of former mayor Whinray Coates in August.