THE Labour group is celebrating victory in the Bucklow St Martins ward by-election.

Labour candidate Aidan Williams won the seat with a majority of 594.

It means that Labour has regained a seat that it never lost at the ballot box.

Last year, the ward's councillor, John Smith, left the Labour group to join the Conservatives.

Mr Smith stood down from the seat in July, triggering the election.

Labour group leader, Cllr Andrew Western, said: "This is a really pleasing result for Labour and testimony to the work put in by Aidan and his campaign team.

"The residents of Bucklow St Martins have sent a strong message that the Tories are failing locally, and the retaking of this seat after the previous incumbent's defection brings us a step closer to taking control of the council from the Conservative in May's local elections."

The full result was: Andrew Beaumont, UK Independence Party 65; Simon Lepori, Liberal Democrats 18; Sarah Marland, Conservative 456; Joseph Ryan, Green Party 33; Aidan Williams, Labour 1050.

The result means that, on Trafford Council, the Conservatives have 33 seats, Labour 26, the Liberal Democrats 3 and one independent.