THE Conservative Party has held on to the Wyre Forest District Council seat in the Aggborough and Spennells ward.

Voters went to the polls on Thursday in the by-election called following the sudden death of Maureen Aston in August.

The Tory candidate, John Aston, widower of the late Mrs Aston, took the seat with 527 votes, beating second-placed Samantha Walker, of the Liberal Democrats, by 63 votes.

Mr Aston said: "I am obviously delighted to continue the work my dear wife, Maureen, started. I would like to thank all the residents for taking the time to vote.

"I promise not to let any of you down."

Former leader of the council, Howard Martin, who stood on the Independent Health Concern ticket, polled 185 votes.

Labour candidate, Adrian Sewell, failed in his attempt to win back the seat he held between 1995 and 1998 after gaining 108 votes.

Kate Spohrer, who was the first person to represent the Green Party in a Wyre Forest district council election, obtained 33 votes. The result meant the make-up of the council did not change, with the ruling Conservatives having 19 seats.

Three candidates are standing in this month's Bewdley Town Council by-election.

They are Sean McCahern (Health Concern) of Callow Hill, William Mason (Labour) of The Racks, Bark Hill, who stood in the Worcestershire County Council election in May and Conservative county councillor, Gordon Yarranton, of Telford Drive.

The by-election will be held on Thursday, November 24 and follows the resignation of Frank Baillie (Health Concern), who represented the Bewdley East ward, last month.