Lib Dem vote more than tripled

2.31.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 31st Aug 2007

Local Loughton campaigner Neil Woollcott has thanked residents after a stunning by-election result saw the Liberal Democrat vote more than triple.

After a hard fought campaign the Liberal Democrats are emerging as clear winners leap frogging both the Tories and Labour to come third.

Neil Woollcott said: "It has been a great privilege to be the Liberal democrat candidate in this by-election and to meet and hear the concerns of many Loughton residents. I look forward to working with the Liberal Democrat team across Epping Forest to get a better deal for Loughton residents."

Full result

Lab 98 8% (-5)

LRA 367 30% (+1)

BNP 393 32% (-6)

UKIP 28 2% (+2)

Tory 163 13% (-3)

Neil Woollcott (Lib Dem) 172 14% (+10)