FOLLOWING the disappointing national and local election performance, Labour bounced back by winning an unexpected rural seat.

As previously reported, Liberal Democrats stalwart and former Mayor, Paula Baker, announced that she was standing down in her role as councillor for the Overton, Laverstoke and Steventon ward to spend more time with her family.

And the party failed to keep their hands on the Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council seat and Labour candidate Colin Phillimore narrowly beat his Conservative rival to the top.

Mr Phillimore received 1,042 votes compared to his Conservative rival Marion Jones and they were followed by Liberal Democrats candidate Lucy Sloane Williams with 636 votes and Kirsten Griffiths of the Green Party came in fourth place with 204 votes.

The Labour candidate said: “I feel ecstatic and I feel honoured to represent the people of Overton.

“I felt we had a chance and there are some big issues in Overton with education and development so I think they will be my main priorities and I am looking forward to the next four years of my life.”