LIBERAL Democrats scored their biggest-ever ward majority when Cllr Judy Ottaway was elected on to the district council.

Cllr Ottaway captured more than half the votes in a high turnout by-election at Chesham Town Hall last Thursday. The Liberal Democrats retained the Chiltern District Council seat in St Mary's Ward in Chesham, with a majority of 104.

The ward was being contested after Sheila Rainger resigned to take up a new post, working for the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Cllr Ottaway was elected with 254 votes, Conservative candidate David Rowlands was runner-up with 150 votes, Kenneth Hulme (Labour) received 65 votes, and Nicholas Wilkins (Green Party) got 20 votes.

Deputy returning officer Andrew Clark said the district council was pleased with the 47 per cent turnout, which was higher than the turnout in the elections held in May last year.

Cllr Ottaway who works as assistant district librarian for Buckinghamshire County Council, is also a Chesham town councillor.

She said: 'I hoped to win because we have done so much hard work in the ward and it now gives me the opportunity to carry it on.'

One of her first tasks will be to speak out against plans to build a house and garage on the car park of the Queen's Head, in Wey Lane, Chesham.