Labour has retained control of Waveney District Council's Oulton ward following a by-election.

Len Jacklin was announced as the winner with 450 votes shortly before 11.30pm.

Conservative candidate Deanna Law came in second with 329 votes and UKIP candidate Bert Poole received 269 votes.

Maxine Narburgh received 23 votes for the Green Party and Liberal Democrat candidate Chris Thomas came in last place with 21 votes.

The by-election was called following the sudden death of popular Labour councillor Mike Ives-Keeler in June.

Mr Ives-Keeler, who was elected as member for the Oulton ward in 2011, was immediately handed the post of shadow cabinet member for resources by the opposition Labour Group.

Mr Jacklin said: 'I am pleased to have held the seat for Labour. It was a hard fought election. I am pleased to have beaten UKIP in to third place. The Tories put up a good fight but it all worked out well.

'I want to thank everyone who voted for me and helped with my election.'

The result has not changed the balance of power at Waveney with the Conservative party retaining overall control with 24 seats. Labour now has 22 district councillors the Green and Independent parties hold one seat each.