A parish council torn apart by a mass resignation is able to make decisions again following a by-election last night.

Christopher Dady defeated Stop Norwich Urbanisation (Snub) candidate Richard Williams by 112 votes to secure a seat on Salhouse Parish Council. Mr Dady received 239 votes to Mr Williams' 127. The total electorate was 1,255, with turnout 29pc.

Tensions between Snub and the parish council, on issues including house building plans in the area, triggered the resignation of seven councillors en masse on the day of a by-election last month.

Snub chairman Stephen Heard later won that election, leaving the authority with just three members and one short of being legally allowed to operate.

A by-election for the remaining seven vacancies will be held on November 15.