A TEESDALE man has succeeded in being elected on to his local town council at his fourth attempt.

Following an election held on Thursday for the west ward of Barnard Castle Town Council, Tony Cooke, a retired electro-mechanical engineer, beat the only other candidate Ken Coates by 138 votes to 99.

This was the fourth time Mr Cooke had put his name forward for a town council seat.

On the three other occasions councillors voted not to co-opt him onto the council, including once when he was the only applicant for the seat.

Mr Cooke, 62, of Stainton Grove, is the chairman of the Stainton Grove Action Group, which protested against the construction of a waste transfer station on the estate.

He also sits on Stainton and Streatlam Parish Council.

Mr Cooke said he was very pleased with the result of the election and thanked voters who turned out in bad weather to support him.

He said: "This is something I've been trying to do for the last six months, even when there was only one actual candidate they chose to vote against me and have never given me a reason why.

"But people have supported me and asked me to stand. This is the first election for the town council in 12 years, and the people have made their choice and I want to honour that choice. I intend to do my very best. I've always been someone who's looked after other people's interests.

"I'm a great person for debate, I like to get all things above board and out in the open. I don't intend to be a 'yes' man, I will work to the benefit of Barnard Castle people."