The Liberal Democrats have gained a seat on Powys County Council in a Llandrindod Wells by-election.

Jake Berriman took the Conservative Llandrindod North seat with 47 per cent of the vote.

The by-election was trigged after long-standing councillor Gary Price stood because he moved out of the area.

The Brecon and Radnorshire Liberal Democrats say they are celebrating as the party achieved a 33.5 per cent swing from the Conservatives in a hard-fought by-election campaign.

Councillor Berriman joins a group of 14 Liberal Democrats on the county council, with the party aiming to increase its numbers even further in the Brecon St Mary by-election next month.

Commenting on the result, newly elected Cllr Jake Berriman said: “I am truly humbled that the voters of Llandrindod North have chosen to put their trust in me to represent them on the council.

“I’ve run an upbeat and positive campaign, focused on listening to local residents and responding with action, reigniting grassroots activism to help make the area a better place to live.

“I look forward to taking my seat on the council and hope to do the community proud as a listening and proactive councillor.”

Jane Dodds, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon and Radnorshire, said: “Jake will be a fantastic councillor for Llandrindod North and I’m glad he’s become the newest member of our growing team of Welsh Liberal Democrat councillors.

“For far too long the Conservative/Independent Powys Council has consistently let down our communities. They have hiked Council Tax by 9.5 per cent, promoted a culture of secrecy around their decisions and have failed to address the huge social care funding crisis.

“This victory is not only good news for the people of Llandrindod, but it shows that with a potential General Election on the horizon the momentum is clearly behind the Liberal Democrats in Brecon and Radnorshire.”

The results:

Jake Berriman, Liberal Democrats - 226

Rosie McConnell, Labour - 89

Tom Turner, Conservatives, 164