THE by-election for the vacant seat on Blackrod Town Council was won by Independent candidate John Price.

Cllr Price came out on top in the north ward vote, beating Conservative and Unionist Party hopeful Susan Baines and UKIP’s Derek Snowden by a landslide.

The Independent received 254 votes compared with Ms Baines’ 72 and Mr Snowden’s 31.

Mr Price, born and raised in Blackrod, has been a keen observer of town council meetings, claiming to have missed only one in nearly a decade.

He has been active in the community for many years and received the Blackrod Community Award in 2012 and the Blackrod Civic award in 2014.

The north ward seat was left by former member Stephen Laycock in November.

The ex-independent, and mayor of Blackrod during 2013/2014, gave no reason for his resignation but said he believed politics should have no place at town council level.