EAST Hampshire District Council welcomed its newest member on Friday following a by-election for a vacant seat in Clanfield and Finchdean.

Nigel Wren, Conservative, won Thursday’s election with 765 of 1,497 votes cast.

Elaine Woodard, Liberal Democrat, came second, with 410 votes, and David James Alexander, UKIP, received 303 votes. The turn-out was 34.1%.

This was one of three by-elections to be held on 5 May, alongside the election for the Police and Crime Commissioner and two neighbourhood plans.

The votes cast for all six elections were counted at the Festival Hall on Friday 6 May.

Residents in Headley, Grayshott, Bramshott and Liphook chose a new representative on Hampshire County Council.

The Headley Division, formerly held by Cllr Ferris Cowper, who remains as leader of East Hampshire District Council, was won by Floss Mitchell, Conservative, with 2,201 votes.

Trevor Maroney, Liberal Democrat, came second, with 1,321 votes, ahead of Peter Kenny Baillie, UKIP, with 791. The turn-out was 33%.

A third by-election was held to fill a vacant seat on the St Mary’s Ward of Petersfield Town Council.

This was won by David Paul Holdaway, Conservative, (193 votes) ahead of Julie Yardley, Green, (107 votes) Bill Organ, Labour, (86 votes) and Rupert David Sayer, Independent (32 votes). The turn-out was 31%.