Painter and decorator Darren Walford has won yesterday's Tudor by-election for the ruling Liberal Democrat group.

Darren, of Knutsford Avenue, now becomes one of the ward's three representatives on Watford Borough Council.

Polls closed at Centrepoint House, Knutsford JMI School and Parkgate Community Centre at 10pm on Thursday night.

Claims have since been made that the election - triggered after the resignation of Hugh O'Hanlon - was one of the dirtiest in recent years.

After a count, held at the town hall, the results were delivered shortly before 11.30pm.

Mr Walford won with 932 votes - just one vote away from achieving half the total number of votes cast.

Richard Southern, for the Conservatives, came second with 486 votes, while Mark Xerri came third, with 273 votes for Labour.

The Green Party's candidate Helen Wynne came forth with 91 votes, leaving the British National Party (BNP) in fifth and last place.

Their candidate, Guy Dickens, had pulled out of the election explaining that his wife had recently passed away.

His name, however, remained on the ballot papers but he only attracted 83 votes.

The turn-out was a healthy 40.83 per cent.

After hearing his name read out Mr Walford, 39, said: "I'm delighted, I'm grateful to the Tudor residents for backing me and I just continue the good work the Lib Dems already do.

"I've met friends, new friends, on the doorsteps and it has been great."

Asked what he was hoping to do as a councillor, he added: "I'm going to do what the Tudor residents want me to do."

The make-up of the council chamber remains unchanged, with the Lib Dems retaining 28 seats - including the Mayor, Dorothy Thornhill - while Labour, the Tories and the Greens all hold three seats.