THE first Ukip candidate to win a seat on Christchurch council has not been seen in the town since before the election.

Janet Abbott was said to be on holiday when she made local political history on May 7.

She has until July 7 to sign a declaration of acceptance saying she will serve as a member for the Grange ward.

But Christchurch Borough Council has had no direct contact with her since the poll.

It is thought she has been in the US since before the poll and is expected to return to take up her seat.

In the meantime, she has an absence record of 100 per cent after failing to turn up for two meetings of the full council and one of the planning committee. Apologies were sent via her agent for each of the meetings.

The Grange ward on Christchurch Borough Council saw two members elected last month – Conservative Denise Jones with 645 votes and Janet Abbott for Ukip on 635.

Cllr Jones said: “So far, I haven’t had the pleasure of meeting Cllr Abbott.

“I think she was in America for most of the campaign. She certainly wasn’t at the count.”

She said it was unusual for a candidate not to be available at the time of the election or to take up their seat straight afterwards.

“I don’t know what the situation is. Maybe she had made arrangements,” she said.

“I’m sure she’ll be eager to work when she gets back,” she added.

Ukip had a second candidate for the ward, Carl Williams, who came fourth in the poll with 547 votes.

Cllr Jones said Mr Williams had been there for the campaign and the count.

The Conservatives maintained their dominance on the borough council in May, despite the town having the second highest number of Ukip members in the country.

Cllr Abbott’s election was one of the few surprises, unseating Conservative Paul Hilliard.

Ukip campaign manager Terry Spooner hailed the result at the time as a “breakthrough”.

He said then: "Janet will be surprised and thrilled when I let her know.”

No one from Ukip could be reached for comment at the time of going to press.