Labour has regained its position as the opposition party on Breckland Council after winning a by-election in Thetford.

Brenda Canham topped the poll in the Abbey ward with 334 votes and beat the Conservative candidate Roy Brame (128 votes) in to second place.

Denis Crawford (UKIP) was third with 117 votes and Liberal Democrat Mike Brindle trailed in fourth with 99 votes.

Turnout was only 16,8pc with just 678 of the 4065 electorate voting.

Mrs Canham is the fourth Labour member on Breckland and so the party is reinstated as the opposition.

There are now three independents and 47 Conservatives.

The by-election was called after former councillor Pauline Quadling stepped down due to work commitments and ill-health.

In a by-election in the same ward for Thetford Town Council - also following Mrs Quadling's resignation - Mike Brindle (independent) won with 291 votes. Peter Georgiou (UKIP) was second with 183 and Roy Brame (Con) polled 162. Turnout was 16.4pc.