BOLTON’S Liberal Democrat group secured a convincing victory in the Horwich Town Council by-election with close to half of the public vote.

The Claypool Ward election had been called after Conservative Bob Allen quit the town council last month.

And it was the Lib Dem candidate Robert Graham who stormed to victory on Thursday night, with 323 votes — a 48 per cent share.

The Tories were pushed back into second place, Susan Baines pulling in 152 votes, with Labour’s Dena Holland in third on 108.

The independent Horwich First group was unable to repeat its dramatic feat of 2015 — when it succeeded in getting two places on the town council.

This time round candidate Ben Watkinson was only able to achieve 80 votes, pushing him into fourth place ahead of Green candidate Roderick Riesco.

Speaking after his victory, Mr Graham said: “It is a fantastic result and I'm thankful that the people of Claypool have chosen me to represent them on Horwich Town Council.

"I'll be fighting the Labour led Council to ensure they put the people of Horwich first when making decisions about our town — fighting all attempts to allow fracking on our beautiful landscape and working within the local community and fight the impact Tory government cuts, and wasteful Labour Council spending are having on residents.”

The turnout for the election was 29.1 per cent.

The result means that the Conservatives no longer have any presence on Horwich Town Council and takes the Liberal Democrat seats up to three, one more than the Horwich First independents.

But Labour still dominate the town council with nine seats.