TWO candidates have vowed to work together following a hotly-contested election battle in the Basing ward.

Conservative candidate Clive Pinder, who stepped down as vice-chairman of the Basingstoke Conservative Association in April 2012 after accusing the Tory administration in charge of the borough council of not listening to voters, was declared as the winner of the Basing ward following Thursday’s local elections.

Clive raced to victory with 2,921 votes ahead of UKIP hopeful Hazel Vanbergen who got 754 votes, Labour candidate Andrew Mountford with 697 votes and Liberal Democrat contender Alan Read who came in fourth place with 684 votes.

And the two front runners have both vowed to work with each other for the good of the area following the declaration of the results on Friday morning.

Clive told The Gazette: “I have never been on the council – this is my first time. I am just the front man to a committed team across the region.

“I am committed to proving to the 45 per cent that didn’t vote for me and the 55 per cent who did that I am committed to the people and not politics and I am passionate about bringing that back into local politics.”

Hazel added: “It is going to be interesting and me and Clive will be meeting in the future and will take a crossparty approach to the various issues we are presented with so it will be an exciting time for Old Basing.

“I am pleased to come second and I think he got a superb result and I wish him (Clive) well.”