MAYOR of Petersfield Jamie Matthews has been elected as the Bell Hill member for East Hampshire District Council (EHDC).

Also a member of Petersfield Town Council, he stood as an Independent and will be the only district councillor out of 44 who isn’t a Conservative.

The by-election on Thursday, March 8, was contested by five candidates, and saw a turn-out of 30 per cent.

The result was, Stephen Elder, Labour, 56 votes, Jim Makin, UKIP, 11, Jamie Matthews, Independent, 178, David Podger, Liberal Democrat, 156, and Clive Shore, Conservative, 145.