A NUMBER of UKIP candidates were elected to a parish council in its first ever election.

Following a surge of candidates put forward by UKIP in St Peter’s parish – an act which forced the election in the first place – which totalled nine of the 15 nominees, the party was always going to win at least three seats on the council.

Dave Carney, Hazel Finch and Linda Murray – who all failed to be elected to the city council for UKIP – were elected in the parish’s first ever election alongside Roger Knight, who stepped down as city councillor for St Peter’s at this election, current city councillor for St Peter’s Mike Johnson, Alan Tidy, Alan Tucker and Paul Walters.

UKIP’s Dave Carney said the election result was a reward for all the party’s hard work in contesting every city election in the last five years.

He said: “It shows that paying lip-service to residents will see them eventually vote for change and we are proud to be that change.

“UKIP Worcester give a huge thank you to our supporters in both areas but in particular, those ex-servicemen who encouraged and supported me to stand as their mouthpiece.

“We look forward to liaising further with our constituents and working with the other councillors.”

The full results for Warndon Parish Council were held back until Tuesday (May 7) so some votes could be recounted.

In Warndon North, Dave Carney, who was also elected in St Peter's, was the only person to be elected from four UKIP candidates.

Andrew Cross despite failing to win a seat on Worcester City Council for the Green Party was re-elected as a parish councillor with 725 votes – the second highest number of votes in Warndon North and the second highest across both Warndon parishes – having been first elected last year in a controversial parish by-election.

City councillor Stephen Hodgson topped the vote with 814 votes for the Conservatives in Warndon North and was elected alongside his wife Cllr Lucy Hodgson - who secured the highest number of votes in Warndon South with 684 votes.

The four UKIP candidates in Warndon South all failed to be elected with Jon Beacham gaining the highest number of votes with 194 – still almost 400 votes behind the final councillor to be elected.

Cllr Andy Taylor, who has been responsible for planning on Warndon Parish Council, returns having been re-elected with 577 votes in Warndon South alongside Cllr Dawn Merriman, who has been responsible for environment on the parish council, who received 606 votes.

Turnout for both parishes in Warndon followed similar figures for the city council elections with 36.16 per cent voting in Warndon North and 34.76 per cent voting in Warndon South.