THE Liberal Democrats retained seats on Cumbria County Council and Kendal Town Council yesterday as by-elections were held to appoint successors to the late John McCreesh.

Mr McCreesh, who was councillor for Kendal Strickland and Fell on the county council and the Kendal Strickland ward on the town ouncil, died in January of a suspected heart attack.

Succeeding him in the county council seat is Peter Thornton, the Lib Dem leader of South Lakeland District Council.

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Cllr Thornton received 1067 votes in the by-election, a 59.9 per cent majority.

The new councillor for the Kendal Strickland ward is fellow Lib Dem John Owen. 62 per cent of voters chose him for the seat.

Kendal Strickland & Fell result:

Peter Thornton (Lib Dem): 1067 votes; 59.9% (+7.8) 

Virginia Branney (LAB): 307 votes; 17.2% (-9.7) 

Harry Taylor (CON): 172 votes; 9.7% (-0.5)

Andy Mason (GRN): 128 votes; 7.2% (+7.2)

David Walker (UKIP): 106 votes; 6.0% (-3.9)