A new Labour county councillor has been elected after defeating the Conservatives in a County Durham by-election.

Julie Scurfield BEM won the Chester-le-Street East by-election with 716 votes - a significant increase for the party compared to the previous election in 2021.

A by-election was called in the ward following the death of former Conservative councillor and Durham County Council Chair Beaty Bainbridge earlier this year.

Cllr Bainbridge won the seat by a margin of 141 votes in 2021 in a contest also against the now-succesful cllr Scurfield. Allan Bainbriudge, cllr Bainbridge's former hsuband and Conservative candidate, received 439 votes. 

The result means Labour has won every by-election in County Durham held since the full election in 2021 after winning in Ferryhill and West Auckland in 2022. The turnout for the by-election was 41.5%.

Read more: Local Elections 2023: Live results from Darlington and Teesside

Reflecting on her win, cllr Julie Scurfield said: “I am thrilled to have been elected to represent the incredible communities of Chester-le-Street and I’d like to thank every person who voted to put their trust in Labour.

“I’d also like to thank the relentless campaigners who spoke to and listened to the thousands of people across the town, most of whom are fed up of the Tory-led coalition bringing Chester-le-Street down.

“The Tory plans for the over-development of the Riverside Sports complex, the lack of investment and lack of a plan for the town centre and the awful decline across our green spaces... it must end.

"I have already started the work of holding the Coalition to account, championing the community and dealing with the multitude of issues we face, but for now my message to the people of Chester-le-Street is that you voted for change and that is what Labour will provide!”

County Durham Labour Leader, Cllr Carl Marshall, said: “This victory is another sign that people believe in County Durham Labour and that we are being successful in our efforts to win back those who left us two years ago.

“It is also another shot across the bows of the chaotic Tory-led Coalition running Durham County Council. Labour has won every by-election in the county since the 2021 election, this time a seat from the Tories. Independent members take note - the writing is on the wall for those who continue to prop-up this failed Tory/ Lib Dem Coalition running the Council.

“Our residents know they are being let down by the Council, they know it is wasting millions of taxpayers’ money and they know that only Labour can turn things around.”