UKIP has lost to the Tories with an almost 23 per cent decrease in votes in the latest Cornwall Council by election in Camborne's Pendarves ward.

Conservative candidate John Herd won the seat with 325 votes, 30 per cent of voter turn out, while UKIP candidate Michael Pascoe only polled 89 votes, or eight per cent.

The by election follows the resignation on health grounds of UKIP councillor Harry Blakeley, who took the seat for the party in 2013 with 340 votes.

The result marks a sharp drop in support for the anti-European party, with the Conservatives winning on the same number of votes which saw them come second in 2013.

Liberal Democrat Mark Billings came second with 311 votes, and Labour's Valerie Dalley was third with 220, followed by Mr Pascoe, then Deobrah Cox of Mebyon Kernow, the Green Party's Jacqueline Merrick, and independent candidate Peter Channon on 85, 31 and 13 votes respectively.

As well as the election for Cornwall Council, there was a by election for a new town councillor, which was won by Conservative David Atherfold with 379 votes.

He was followed by Roger Richards of the Liberal Democrats, Labour's Erin Krey, and then Julia Prosser of Mebyon Kernow.