Conservatives defeated Labour to take a council seat in the latest local by-elections by 276 votes.

The Tory victory came in a contest in the Hulton ward of Labour-controlled Bolton Council following the death of a Labour councillor.

Voting was: C 1,455, Lab 1,179, Ukip 190, LD 67, Green 52. The turnout was 29.7%.

Elsewhere, Conservatives easily held a seat on Milton Keynes Council (Newport Pagnell North & Hanslope ward) while Liberal Democrats comfortably held a seat on Rochford District Council (Downhall & Rawreth).

An independent candidate narrowly rebuffed a Conservative challenge to win a seat on Bournemouth Borough Council (Throop & Muscliff) in a poll prompted by the resignation of an independent councillor.