THE Conservatives have just managed to hold onto a seat in a by-election in Weymouth and Portland.

In a closely-fought contest, Richard Nickinson has become the new borough councillor for the Weymouth West ward.

He beat the Green Party's Val Graves by just 50 votes.

If elected, Val Graves would have become the second Green Party borough councillor.

The Greens also have a county councillor representing Rodwell division in Weymouth, Clare Sutton.

Labour Party candidate David Greenhalf was third in the by-election.

The by-election - the only election taking place locally -  was called following the resignation in December of Cllr Claudia Moore who has started a new job with Weymouth BID.

Mrs Moore was elected to the ward as a Conservative candidate in the 2014 elections but she crossed the floor to the Greens in 2016.

Cllr Nickinson will only serve on the council until next year instead of ther usual four as Weymouth and Portland Borough Council is being abolished.

This is due to local government reorganisation which will see the district and borough councils abolioshed and two Dorset unitary authorities established.

Result: 

Con 558 (elected)

Green 508

Lab 356 

Turnout: 35.43%