CHARD Liberal Democrats are celebrating a great victory in yesterday's by-elections.

Despite the national picture where it looks as if Conservatives are gaining an upper hand on Labour, it was the LibDems who maintained their stranglehold in Chard.

There were four by-elections yesterday in the town - one for a seat on South Somerset District Council and three vacancies on Chard Town Council. And the LibDems won the lot.

Cllr Jenny Kenton won the Crimchard ward seat on the district council. She polled 423 votes to beat Conservative candidate, Cllr David Mears, who like Cllr Kenton is also a member of the town council, who polled 320.

Winning seats on the town council were Cllrs Sue Wyatt (Holyrood), Garry Shortland (Avishayes) and Julian Dorse (Crimchard).

For full reports and pictures of yesterday's by-elections - see next week's Chard and Ilminster News. Out on Wednesday!