Phil Knowles says "thank you" to the residents of Great Bowden and Arden ward

7.33.00pm GMT Sat 30th Jan 2010

On Thursday Phil Knowles, chairman of Market Harborough Liberal Democrats, won the by-election in the Great Bowden and Arden ward of Harborough District Council.

The full result:

Phil Knowles (Lib Dem) 966 - 62%

Barry Champion (Con) 598 - 38%

LIB DEM GAIN

The swing was a whopping 14 per cent from the Conservatives to the victorious Liberal Democrats.

Speaking after the results was announced, Phil Knowles said: "We were successful in this campaign because we were supported, not just by Liberal Democrat members, but also by many local residents who backed us and gave generously of their time to deliver Focus - often in awful weather. I thank them from the bottom of my heart for their efforts. This was a victory for the whole community, not just one for me and the Liberal Democrats. It was community politics in action."

The by-election took place because of the sudden and unexpected resignation of the Conservative leader of Harborough District Council.

This is the second Liberal Democrat victory in a town by-election in recent months, following Colin Davies' win in Welland ward in September last year.

Photograph by courtesy of Andrew Carpenter.