The Conservatives have cemented their position as the main opposition on Mendip District Council after winning a by-election in Wells.

A by-election for the Wells St Thomas ward was held on Thursday (May 6) following the resignation of Liberal Democrat councillor Caroline McKinnell, who was elected in May 2019.

The Lib Dems were unable to field a candidate due to a "technicality", leaving it a two-horse race between the Conservatives and Labour.

The Conservative candidate Tanys Pullin ended up winning by nearly 250 votes – though the Lib Dems remain the largest party on the council.

Ms Pullin ended up polling 887 votes against 642 for her rival, Labour candidate Adam Fyfe.

The Mendip Conservatives posted on their official Facebook page after the results: "This is a great result in what is normally a solid Lib Dem seat. Well done to all involved."

The Wells Labour Party added: "We secured our largest ever vote share in the Wells St Thomas ward on Mendip District Council since the council's creation in 1973, with 42 per cent.

"We'll keep on campaigning to earn your votes and turn the whole Wells constituency into an equally prosperous area for all."

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The other councillor for Wells St Thomas, Tom Ronan, currently serves as the portfolio holder for strategic planning and climate change.

Despite the by-election result, the Lib Dems remain the largest party on Mendip District Council, with 23 out of 47 seats.

They are followed by the Conservatives (with 12 seats), the Green Party (ten) and two independents.

The Lib Dems have governed in a minority since the local elections in May 2019, which saw the Conservatives voted out of power and then-Tory leader and fellow Wells councillor Harvey Siggs losing his seat.