REFORM are celebrating a triumphant campaign that saw them win a seat on Basildon Council yesterday (Thursday, 26 June).

Wickford resident Sarah-Jane Shields won the Wickford Park ward by-election, which followed the death of long-serving Wickford Independents councillor David Harrison.

She polled 922 votes, 82 ahead of the Conservatives' Lewis Hooper.

There was a turn-out of 25.25%.

Labour's Wayne Milne came second last, only ahead of the Green Party with 146 votes. The Wickford Independent candidate Andrew Carter polled 148. Lib-Dems were third, with 171.

The victory is the latest in a series of by-election triumphs for Reform, who have recently won seats on Thurrock and Castle Point councils.

And they will have hopes of further success in Basildon, where there is a by-election in St Martin's ward on Thursday, 17 July due to the resignation of Labour's Maryam Yaqub.