A TIED result at a town council by-election was decided by drawing names out of bag.

Liberal Democrat candidate Jack Davies and Conservative candidate Michaela Morris were tied in first place at the Lymington and Pennington Town Council by-election on Thursday (Sept1).

Both candidates fighting to represent the Pennington ward on the council received 401 votes after the first round of counting.

And despite carrying out two additional recounts the number of votes for each candidate remained the same.

It was agreed by both parties that the Returning Officer would place both names in a bag and whoever was randomly drawn out would fill the vacancy.

And as a result 20-year-old Jack Davies has now become one the youngest councillors to ever sit on the town council.

Speaking to the Echo Cllr Davies, who is about to enter his second year at the University of Southampton studying international relations, said he was relieved when the winner was finally announced.

"It's the first time I have ever heard of an election being decided by drawing names out of a bag," said Cllr Davies, who lives in Pennington.

"It was really nerve-racking to have to sit and watch them recount the votes, and also we weren't sure what they would decide to do as a tie-breaker.

"Really it could have gone anyway but I'm really pleased with the result and it's great to win."

Despite the fact that Cllr Davies heads back to university at the end of the month he claims this will in no way effect his role as a councillor.

"I live at home and plan to work hard every day to repay the faith the people of Pennington have placed in me," added Cllr Davie, who attended Priestlands School in Lymington.

"As a child I knew that I always wanted to help people so getting involved with the community and local politics is the best way I can see of doing that."

For Cllr Davies his new role will see him working hard to improve the bus service in the town following the closure of Lymington bus station - but he also wants to make sure Pennington is not forgotten about.

"Unfortunately Pennington has suffered from a lack of funding compared to Lymington and I want to see that change," he added.

"As a councillor I want to make sure Pennington gets a fair deal.

"I also want to make sure we get some bus shelters installed in Lymington's high street as currently people waiting for a bus in the town centre have nowhere to sit and no shelter from the weather."

Cllr Davies also hopes to bring something slightly different to the council make-up as a young Liberal Democrat.

"Currently, the Conservatives run the council and there has been a real lack of opposition so hopefully I can help change that," he added.