NEW East ward councillor Gavin McGill says his by-election victory was a vindication of Labour's policies.

Cllr McGill comfortably fought off competition from the Tories' Sohail Raja, to claim former leader Mike Connolly's seat.

He spoke of his delight after the result was announced at the The Elizabethan Suite, at Bury Town Hall, where the count was held.

He said:"I'm very happy, we fought a fair campaign and it's vindication of everything Bury Labour does.

"We worked so hard, spoke to so many people and solved so many people's problems, it vindicates everything Bury Labour is doing.

"The failed austerity policies of the government don't succeed in East ward."

Cllr McGill said the biggest issue on the doorstep was fly-tipping.

He said: "During the campaign we have been getting out the message from the manifesto about community group engagement and getting people as actively involved in the community as possible."

Council leader Rishi Shori hailed Cllr McGill's victory.

He said: "Gavin will be an excellent representative for the people of East ward and addition to the council. The result tonight was a reaction against the damaging austerity imposed by this Conservative government over the last eight years.

"The result was also an endorsement of the hard work undertaken by Bury's Labour council in the most difficult of circumstances having had almost 70 per cent of its budget slashed. We will continue to protect frontline services and stand up for local communities. "

The result means East ward now has a full complement of Labour councillors, with Cllr McGill joining Cllr Trevor Holt and Cllr Stella Smith as the area's representatives.

Mr Connolly resigned in June on health grounds with an investigation pending over his role in the safeguarding scandal surrounding shamed ex-colleague Simon Carter.

But the issue did not appear to influence voters who returned Cllr McGill with an 862 vote-margin over nearest challenger, Mr Raja.

And Labour chiefs concerns that a low-turnout could work against them also proved unfounded.

The Conservatives would not have expected to win the safe Labour seat, but appeared disappointed with the margin of defeat.

But group leader Cllr James Daly heaped praise on Mr Raja, whom he described as a "hard working brilliant candidate who would have made a brilliant councillor". He added that he had been proud to campaign for him.

Turnout for the election was confirmed as 25.7 per cent compared to 33.23 per cent for the same ward at the May local elections. But higher than 23.6 per cent for the Besses by-election last month.

The full result was as follows:

Nicole Haydock (Green Party) 77

Gavin McGill* (Labour Party) 1419

Andy Minty (Liberal Democrats) 49

Sohail Raja (Conservative Party) 557

Angela Zwierzanski (UK Independence Party) 107