The Portishead Independents retained a seat on North Somerset Council that went up for grabs in a by-election yesterday (May 6).
The group's candidate Caroline Goddard won the Portishead East seat on the council with 40 per cent (768) of the votes.
She replaces fellow Portishead Independent Cllr Paul Gardner, who resigned his post as district councillor for the town's east ward for 'personal reasons' last year.
Ms Goddard joins Independent councillor Caritas Charles in the two-member ward.
Her nearest rival in the by-election, Conservative candidate David Oyns, took 32 per cent (609) of the votes.
Liberal Democrat Paul Welton came third with 16 per cent (303 votes) and Labour's Sophie Davies received 12 per cent (219).
Nearly 35 per cent of possible voters turned out in the by-election.
The Independents make up the largest single group on North Somerset Council with 17 councillors.
The Conservatives have 13 members, the Liberal Democrats 11, Labour six and the Greens three.
