LABOUR’S Karen Leach has promised to always be there to listen to the needs of residents in Radcliffe East.

She has just been elected councillor for the ward, receiving 2,861 votes in the Bury Council by-election and retaining the seat for her party.

She beat the Conservative’s James Mason, in second place, by 815 votes.

Ms Leach said: “I am very humbled.

“I just want to say a huge thank you to the people of Radcliffe East for voting for me.

“Thank you for giving me this opportunity and I won’t let you down.

“I will be a very, very hard working councillor and always someone that you can come to with any issues, and I will always do my very best for you.”

Labour’s deputy leader on Bury Council, Andrea Simpson, who herself won the Besses by-election earlier this year, said it was the result of a “really positive campaign”.

Ms Simpson said: “We have let a lot of really lovely people on doorsteps and had good feedback.

“Support from residents has been fantastic.”

Ms Simpson said Ms Leach is a “brilliant” member of Labour’s team who will work hard her party, as well as her ward’s residents.

The seat was up for grabs after the ward’s former councillor Nick Parnell, also of Labour, stood down after seven years in the post to take up a role as a full time official with Britain’s biggest trade union, Unite the Union.

The full results of the Radcliffe East by-election were:

Robert Graham, Liberal Democrats - 232
Nicole Haydock, Green Party - 221
Karen Leach, Labour - 2861
James Mason, Conservatives - 2046