A FORMER Mayor of Bewdley has claimed the vacant Wyre Forest District Council seat for the Conservatives following a by-election.

Anna Coleman was elected for the Bewdley and Rock Ward with a majority of 245 following the ballot which was held yesterday (Thursday, September 21).

The by-election was held following the death of Rod Wilson, who died in July at the age of 72 following a short battle with illness.

Councillor Coleman, who was Mayor of Bewdley last year, re-joined the Tories earlier this year having defected to the Green Party in 2016.

She polled 734 votes with Labour’s Bewdley Town councillor Rod Stanczyszyn coming second with 489 votes.

Liberal Democrat Clare Cassidy got 109 votes while John Davis polled 85 votes for the Green Party. The turnout for the ballot was just under 21 per cent.

Councillor Coleman said: “It is a great privilege to be elected to the Council and I will be working very hard for all of my electorate and would like to thank everyone who voted for me.”

Wyre Forest District Council leader Marcus Hart said: “I am delighted to welcome Anna into the Conservative group and onto the council, she will be a great asset and a strong voice for her local community.

“This by election result demonstrates that it is the Conservatives who are making a real difference for its residents and businesses and are making the right decisions for our communities.”

The result means the Conservatives have 21 of the 33 seats on the authority while Labour have four. The Liberal Democrats and Independents have three each while Health Concern have two.