Preston by-election results: Who won in Ashton and Preston Rural East?

Liz Atkins centre is congratulated on her victory by returning officer Lorraine Norris

Under the drama of the Lancashire County Council elections there were two Preston by-elections played out.

They saw the return of councillor Liz Atkins to the Labour ranks.

She stood in the Ashton ward, after having only stepped down in April last year, saying ‘she had missed it’.

Ms Atkins said this time she would not be taking on as many duties and instead would be focused on her constituency. Previously she was vice-chair of the planning committee as well as a number of other duties within the Labour group.

Ashton saw the Conservative candidate also standing in the county elections, for the newly created Preston South West where Michael Balshaw pushed Labour close.

Labour already held the ward and the by-election was triggered when Angela Vodden stepped down in March.

Ron Woollam, second from the right, was elected for Preston Rural East

In Preston Rural East the by-election caused by the death of councillor Tom Davies was held, with the Conservatives holding the ward and Ron Woollam being elected by a significant majority.

Full results for the by-elections are below:

Ashton
Liz Atkins – Labour – 648 votes (elected)
Michael Balshaw – Conservatives – 477
Jeremy Dable – Lib Dems – 166
Simon Platt – UKIP – 62

Preston Rural East
Kieran Aspden – UKIP – 58
David Callaghan – Lib Dems – 160
Joshua Mascord – Labour – 216
Ron Woollam – Conservatives – 987 (elected)