THE Reform Party has held onto its Newquay Porth and Tretherras seat at Cornwall Council following the by-election staged on Thursday.

Reform UK candidate Lyndon Harrison polled 645 votes, which was 116 more than his nearest rival.

He defeated second placed Green Party candidate Abigail Jane Hubbucks who received 529 votes.

Independent Topher Chard polled 361 votes, Liberal Democrat Sandy Carter 349, Conservative Oli Kimber 132 while Suzanne Featherstone from the Labour and Co-operative Party received 120.

Mr Harrison takes the seat of his close friend Kevin Towill who died in February aged 46, which triggered the by-election.

Mr Harrison, who. works as a taxi driver, was a former chairman of Newquay Chamber of Commerce and Tourism as well as serving on Newquay Town Council for more than 10 years.

He aims to use that experience in his new role as a Cornwall councillor.

Mr Harrison said: “This is a great hold for Reform. I am wholeheartedly committed to the party and its very necessary cause. This county needs Reform and so does the country.

“I must remember my friend Kevin Towill. I will carry on the work he was doing for the people of the ward.

“I want to achieve making a difference in people’s lives and make this council do what it’s supposed to do and not waste money and get the job done properly. I want to improve the roads and want I to see affordable housing for young people.”

The turnout was 37 per cent.

Independent Topher Chard said it was encouraging to see turnout had increased but he thought national issues had come into the campaign.

Mr Chard said: "It was a fantastic turn out, very encouraging to see an increase in voters for a by election.

“This has definitely bucked the trend in recent years. It was great to see people excited for voting and for the election and politics again.

“All parties lost votes from the last election, and the two new candidates saw a huge rise.

“Unfortunately national politics did play a part in this election, with large numbers of leaflets coming from headquarters.

“It was very much a left versus right of politics in this one, with a large turnout from usual non voters and disillusioned with the regular parties.”

Abigail Hubbocks said: “Obviously, it’s disappointing to lose by such a narrow margin. But it’s also really encouraging that so many people voted Green, and it puts us in a very strong position to win next time.

“From talking with hundreds of people on the doorstep, I know that many are completely disillusioned with politics, some so much that they’ve stopped voting altogether. Others may have voted Reform because they think it’s at least offering something different. I’m afraid those people are going to be disappointed.

“At the same time, I know that there are so many people who want to see positive change in our community. As a Newquay town councillor, I’m going to carry on working hard to make that happen.”