By election victory in Shenfield

Liz Cohen won yesterday's by election in Shenfield with a resounding victory over the Conservatives who, until May 2012, had held all three borough seats since 1896.

Cllr Cohen polled 728 votes, 171 ahead of the Conservative candidate. Labour, whose claim of being "the real opposition" in Brentwood now lies in tatters polled just 31 votes and were pushed into fourth place by UKIP who got 119 votes.

In her first speech as councillor, Liz said she had thoroughly enjoyed getting to know so many people in Shenfield over the campaign and looked forward to serving them.

This win increases the Lib Dem group to nine members and takes the opposition to 12 in total (2 Labour, 1 Independent). The Conservatives have been reduced from 29 councillors in January to 25, with the Lib Dems having gained three seats of them this year.