CONSERVATIVE Nathan Desmond has been elected for St Mary's in the Worcestershire County Council by-election on the same day his wife gave birth to their second daughter.

Mr Desmond won the seat by 62 votes ahead of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) candidate Peter Willoughby.

The by-election was called after UKIP's Tony Baker suddenly died only a month after being elected in May.

Labour's Mumshad Ahmed came in third with 338 votes, Independent Community and Health Concern candidate Graham Ballinger polled 321 votes and Independent Helen Dyke had 195 votes.

The turnout was recorded as 20.4 per cent compared to 24.6 per cent in May.

Mr Desmond said: "It's been a hell of a day. I'm absolutely ecstatic. 

"Obviously, I was bitterly disappointed to lose in May. The area is my passion.

"My thoughts go out to Mr Baker's family and obviously, it's difficult circumstances to get the seat back.

"I'm absolutely delighted and over the moon that I've got St Mary's and on the day that I've become a father.

"My daughter was born this morning, she's called Faith. It just proves you have got to keep the faith."

In May, UKIP made history by winning its first four seats at the county council elections, two of which were in Wyre Forest.

Following today's result, UKIP's Wyre Forest branch has no representation at County Hall after it also failed to retain the seat Eric Kitson resigned from at the Stourport by-election in June.

Mr Desmond added: "What this vote has proved is that the UKIP vote in May was a temporary protest vote. It was a national protest that fed into a local election.

"Since May, there has been two by-elections which were from UKIP councillors and both seats have gone back to the councillors that held them before May. That's telling."

Mr Desmond won today's by-election with 504 votes, compared to the 545 votes he polled in May.

Mr Ahmed's votes fell from 507 in May to 338 today and Mr Ballinger saw 336 votes counted in May compared to 321 at today's by-election.