The Liberal Democrats have held onto a Sutton Council seat as their candidate for the Wallington North by-election won by more than 300 votes.

Barry Lewis was declared the new elected councillor for the ward, with 1,039 votes, as the Conservatives’ Anne Leonard trailed in second with 709.

This now sees the Lib Dems remain in control of Wallington North, with three councillors, and continue to hold 33 of the council’s 54 overall seats.

Independent Gervais Sawyer was out in third behind the Tories’ candidate, with 381, and Labour’s Sheila Berry finished fourth with 301.

But there was just a 31.36 per cent turnout this time around, with only 2,726 of the votes cast coming from an electorate of 8,692.

The by-election was held following the resignation of Cllr Joyce Melican, who suffered a stroke while on holiday abroad in the German city of Hamburg.

READ: Wallington North councillor quits due to 'ill health'

The by-election results were announced on March 28.

Here are the results in full:

- Barry Lewis (Liberal Democrats) – 1,039

- Anne Leonard (Conservatives) – 709

- Gervais Sawyer (Independent) – 381

- Sheila Berry (Labour) – 301

- Verity Thompson (Green) – 166

- John Bannon (UKIP) – 104

- Ashley Dickenson (Christian Peoples Alliance) – 17

Voter turnout: 31.36 per cent (2,726 votes out of 8,692)