CONSERVATIVES in Basildon are celebrating after a by-election victory.

Tory Stuart Terson polled 794 votes, which was 57% of those cast in the Pitsea North West ward seat vacated by former Basildon Council and Labour group leader Gavin Callaghan.

In the wake of Labour and the independent group losing control of the council in May Mr Callaghan announced he would be standing down to spend more time with family and pursue other interests at home and abroad.

In yesterday's by-election Labour's Aidan McGurran polled 430 votes (31%).

Other candidates were:

Jake Hogg (Basildon Community Residents Party) 82 votes; Martin Keith Howard (Liberal Democrats) 57; Daniel Charles Raymond Tooley (Reform UK) 23; Christopher David Bateman (The For Britain Movement) 19.

Mr Terson has lived and worked in Pitsea for over 20 years and is married with two children. He is chairman of Basildon & Pitsea Carnival and a primary school governor.