Labour has held a ward on Cherwell District Council following a by-election.

Gordon Ross won the Banbury Ruscote seat on Thursday with 611 votes compared to Conservative Pat Thompson’s 349 and 117 for David Burton, of the UK Independence Party. Turnout was 18.1 per cent.

The election was called after George Parish – a Labour councillor for 15 years – stepped down.

He said he wanted to focus on his duties on Banbury Town Council.