Labour have retained their seat in the Houghton Ward of Sunderland City Council.

The results of the by-election announced tonight saw Labour's Gemma Taylor top the poll with 1,418 votes followed closely by Independent John Verrill Ellis with 1,124 votes.

UKIP candidate Edward Ernest Coleman-Hughes came in third with 302, followed by George Edward Brown of the Local Conservatives with 111 and Liberal Democrat Sue Sterling polling just 55 votes.

The turnout was 33.3 per cent.

The vacancy arose following the death of Labour councillor Kath Rolph, who lost her fight against cancer.