LIBERAL democrat candidate Anne-Marie Curry pledged 'the hard work starts now' after convincingly sweeping to victory in a by-election in Darlington tonight.

Ms Curry polled more than half the vote for her party in the North Road by-election on Darlington Borough Council.

She said: "I anticipated this due to my colleagues judging the situation. I wanted a good fight which is what I got.

"I am happy with the result. I'm looking forward to working with people in the North Road ward because I have met a lot of nice people. I know the hard work starts now.

"I have got a list of things from canvassing to follow up on first. The future starts now."

Ms Curry, 44, from Darlington, who works as a supply teacher, polled 561 votes in the by-election.

Her party now has six councillors in Darlington, with Labour maintaining control with 29 ahead of the Conservative party on 18.

The by-election had been called after Steve Jones, an independent councillor, was removed from his seat because he had failed to attend a meeting for six months.

In the 2007 council elections, he was voted in as a Liberal Democrat councillor in second place, between Fred Lawton and Mike Barker, also Liberal Democrats.

However, he was ousted from his party because he had signed the papers of a British National Party candidate for the same seat.

Mr Jones had sought re-election as an independent councillor. He said he was unable to attend any meetings because of a new job but had maintained his ward work.

He came in fifth in the count, with just 60 votes.

Mr Jones said: "It is nothing more than I expected.

"Independents don't do very well. I will now wait for the next election and stand again as an independent."

He added that whilst he had encountered positive comments while out canvassing, the reason for his sacking had conspired against him in the result.

Coun Barker said the result was "a vindication of the hard work we do in that ward".

"We have worked hard in that ward for 20 years. People appreciate it when local councillors look after them and work hard," he said.

"I think that's why we won so convincingly." <

The turnout for the by-election, which cost the council £11,000 to run and closed two schools for the day, was 24 per cent.

Labour party candidate John Vasey came in second with 262 votes, ahead of George Jenkinson (Conservative) with 115 and John Hoodless (British National Party) 106.