Lib Dems win by-election after councillor's death

The Liberal Democrats have taken control of a council after a by-election.

The election for Wokingham Borough Council was called following the death of Conservative councillor Norman Jorgensen in March.

Liberal Democrat councillor Mike Smith won the Maiden Erlegh & Whitegates Ward on Thursday night.

He thanked his team and said he would "do my best to represent all residents" in his new post.

Smith received 1,028 votes, several hundred ahead of Labour candidate Andy Croy and Conservative candidate Guy Grandison, who received 793 and 788 votes respectively.

It means the Liberal Democrats now have 28 councillors on the council, giving them a majority over the 19 Conservative, six Labour and one independent.

Before he died, Jorgensen was also a councillor for Earley Town Council.

Grandison, who is also chairman of Earley & Woodley Conservatives, previously said he was "respected across the political divide".

Even when he was ill with cancer, he "was helping residents until almost the end", Mr Grandison added.

Jorgensen's widow, opposition leader Pauline Jorgensen, said the outcome of the by election showed "how much personal support he had in the ward".

You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.