Chatteris has a new UKIP county councillor following yesterday’s by-election.

Cambs Times: Tim Aker MEP met Richard Mandley during the Chatteris by-electionTim Aker MEP met Richard Mandley during the Chatteris by-election (Image: Archant)

Tory Alan Melton, former Fenland District and Cambridgeshire County Councillor, was hoping to make a come back but his hopes were dashed by 10 votes.

UKIP’s Richard Mandley took the seat replacing fellow UKIP councillor Sandra Rylance who sadly died in August.

Liberal Democrat John Freeman came in third place.

Turn out was low at 23.5 per cent with 1,464 votes cast.

Mr Mandley polled 600 of those with Mr Melton gaining 590 and Mr Freeman 274.

UKIP’s share of the vote rose by 6.2 per cent and the Tories also saw their share rise by just under six per cent. The Lib Dem’s share fell by just under three per cent.

Mrs Rylance, a mother of two was diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumour in May and spent her final weeks at the Arthur Rank Hospice in Cambridge.

She served as chairman of the county’s Adult Social Care Committee.

Cambs Times: Chatteris ward resultChatteris ward result (Image: Archant)

Social media site Twitter was buzzing with the news last night including one poster pointing out UKIP had doubled their majority from five to 10 since the last election.

Cambs Times: Chatteris ward resultChatteris ward result (Image: Archant)