Ukip jubilation as Wyre Forest seats won

Loud cheers went up at Kidderminster's Wyre Forest Glades Leisure Centre as 69-year-old Tony Baker was announced as Worcestershire County Council's first ever Ukip councillor.

Mr Baker took the St Mary's seat on the authority, previously held by Nathan Desmond for the Tories, after polling 595 votes.

Speaking after the win, he said it was 'very pleasing to take the seat' as he echoed the views of party leader Nigel Farage in heralding a new era for British politics.

"I expected it to be close and in the end there were just 50 votes in it. I want to thank everyone who voted for me. It is an honour to take this seat for Ukip," he said.

"I believe this is the first step in a new phase for British politics and hopefully the first of many more to come.

"There is now a lot to be done and I am looking forward to being a part of the county council."

Mr Desmond said he was 'bitterly disappointed' to have lost his seat but was proud of what he had achieved.

"As a county councillor I could not have done any more in the last four years. I have worked my socks off and have a track record I can be proud of," he said.

"The Ukip vote in St Mary's is a national protest which has fed into a local election. We have seen it take votes from all parties not just the Conservatives. Traditionally St Mary's was a Labour ward. If we were to lose to anyone we should have lost to them. The fact we didn't speaks volumes."

And there was more joy for Ukip as it secured one of the two seats up for grabs in Stourport-on-Severn.

Eric Kitson, aged 59, said he was shocked to win. "Everyone has been telling me for the past few weeks I would take this seat and I just did not believe it," he said.

In other results Tory John Campion, who is also the leader of Wyre Forest District Council, retained his Bewdley seat. Fellow Tory Marcus Hart kept his St John's seat and Gordon Yarranton retained the Cookley, Wolverley and Wribbenhall seat also for the Tories.