THE Liberal Democrats romped home in two Dawlish by-elections.

A seat on Dawlish Town Council and another on Teignbridge Council were up for grabs following the death of veteran councillor Mike James.

Taking the district council seat for Dawlish south west ward was Pat Hackett who beat off Reform UK by almost 250 votes.

The results were: Pat Hackett (Liberal Democrats) 692 votes, Sue Whiteing (Reform UK) 451 votes, Scott Williams (Green Party) 230 votes and Joe Dagger (Local Conservatives) 154 votes.

Pat, who moved to Dawlish a few years ago, has a distinguished political background as a former leader of Wirral Metropolitan Borough Council, where he led a minority Labour administration, and was also as a former Mayor of The Wirral.

He won a seat on Dawlish Town Council earlier this year.

Back on the town council following the by-election is fellow Lib Dem Gary Taylor who was elected with a majority of 543.

Cllr Taylor previously served on the town council but has been a Teignbridge Council member, representing Kenton and Starcross and now serves as Executive Member for Planning and Building Control.

The results for the seat on the town council were: Gary Taylor (Liberal Democrats) 910 votes, Dawn Rivers (Green Party) 367 votes.

Both seats had been vacant following the death of Liberal Democrat Councillor Mike James earlier this year.

Despite the soaring temperature on one of the hottest days of the year, the turnout was 31 per cent for the district council election and 30 per cent for the town council seat.

Cllr Richard Keeling, Leader of Teignbridge District Council, and fellow Lib Dem said: ‘I would like to congratulate Pat Hackett and Gary Taylor on their election, and thank all the candidates who stood.

‘I also want to thank residents who took the time to vote, as well as the elections team and polling station staff who supported the smooth running of both by-elections, particularly in the very hot weather.’

Lib Dem MP for Newton Abbot Martin Wrigley, said: ‘I am delighted with the results in yesterday's by-elections in Dawlish.

‘My congratulations to Pat and Gary who will be excellent councillors for Dawlish.’

Mr Wrigley continues to sit as a district councillor for Dawlish since his election to parliament two years ago.

Questions have been raised why he has not resigned his district seat while carrying out his MP responsibilities.

He had previously said this was to avoid the costs of a by-election.

Following the latest Dawlish by-election, he said: ‘Yesterday was Dawlish south west, my seat is north east so it would have been significantly more.

‘However, in light of local government reorganisation, Teignbridge Council has less than a year left of being an independent council, for a new councillor it can take that long to get to grips with how the council works.

‘Also it is helpful to see local government reorganisation from the council viewpoint as well as Westminster.’