THE Conservatives held off a strong challenge from Labour to win the Redhill and Northbourne by-election last night.

David D'Orton-Gibson, who unsuccessfully stood in the ward last May, topped the poll this time with 675 votes.

Labour candidate Jo Kennedy came second with 539 votes and former councillor Pat Lewis came third for the Liberal Democrats with 424 votes.

Another former councillor Claire Smith was the top Independent candidate, coming fourth with 398 votes.

UKIP received 327 votes, the Green Party 54, Independent Paul Graham 51, the BNP 42 and Independent Pete Woodley 15.

Listen to audio of the results, celebrations and reaction here

David said he was delighted to succeed at his second attempt. He said canvassing had revealed that while some people might be unhappy with the Conservatives nationally, there was support for the Tory-run council.

"When you look at the results across the country on May 3, we have bucked the trend here," he said.

"Out canvassing we did get lots of people unhappy about their pensions or the economic situation but we had to explain those are national issues."

Labour leader Cllr Ben Grower claimed the result proved Labour were now the biggest challengers to the Conservatives, at local and national level.

"this makes both Bournemouth seats highly marginal at the next general election," he said. "If we can come from bottom last time to a close second this time, that shows how well we are doing. "this was a good result, just not good enough."

Cllr Mike Greene, the Tory campaign manager, said the national picture is not great but the result shows how happy people are with the job the Conservatives are doing with Bournemouth council.

Claire Smith, the former Liberal Democrat leader who lost her Kinson seat last year, stood as an independent.

She said: "It's been a really positive campaign. "I just don't want to be involved with the political side of things anymore but I do like helping people."