POLICE have hit back at criticisms that they failed to protect a vulnerable candidate at the Hartlepool by-election.

Liberal Democrat candidate Jody Dunn, from Gainford, near Darlington, was left in tears after a purple flour attack by a rival candidate.

Mrs Dunn, 35, a family law barrister, lost out by just 2,000 votes to Labour candidate Iain Wright.

She was making her speech when Fathers-4-Justice candidate Paul Watson 'dusted' her. Earlier Labour's Iain Wright had been barracked as he made his victory speech.

Ms Dunn's election agent Ed Fordham criticised police. He said: "We were given assurances that Jody would be protected. The police utterly failed to do that. We've given our intentions to the police to pursue the matter."

In a statement chief Superintendent Dave Nixon defended the police. He said: "There was intelligence that Fathers for Justice planned to carry out publicity stunts such as a rooftop protest at the Millhouse Centre and an invasion of the stage as the count was announced. Both were prevented. There was no indication that Paul Watson, their candidate, would pour powder, which had been secreted in a cigarette packet, over Jody Dunn. It was agreed that everyone who entered the hall, apart from the candidates, would be searched and throughout the evening Mrs Dunn had a plain clothed officer at her side."

Spokesman for Fathers-4-Justice Matt O'Connor said Paul Watson, who lives in Thornley in County Durham, did not regret his action. He said: "We thought about showing respect for the traditions of the electoral process and then we thought sod it."

All sides claimed some sort of victory in the election except for the Conservatives who came fourth behind the UK Independence Party, who want the European Union to have fewer powers. It is not thought that a main opposition party has come fourth in a by-election since 1832.

Conservative Party candidate Jeremy Middleton said that many natural Conservative voters had switched to the Liberal Democrats had succeeded in persuading many Conservative voters to switch in an anti-Labour tactic. He said the campaign had been fought in "a sea of pettiness and bile."

Winning Labour candidate Iain Wright, who survived an 18.8 per cent swing from Labour to the LibDems, said his first job would be to knock on the doors of Cleveland Police to address people's concerns about crime.

*** The full results are as follows:

Edward ABRAMS (English Democrats) - 41

Stephen ALLISON (UKIP - United Kingdom Independence Party) - 3,193

Philip BERRIMAN (Independent) - 90

John Anthony BLOOM (Respect - Save our Hospital Campaigner) - 572

Ronnie CARROLL (Independent) - 45

Jody DUNN (Liberal Democrats - To Save Hartlepool's Hospital) - 10,719

Paul Michael WATSON (Fathers-4-Justice) - 139

Christopher HERRIOT (Socialist Labour Party, Leader Arthur Scargill) - 95

Alan aka 'Howling Lord' HOPE (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party) - 80

Jeremy Peter MIDDLETON (Make a Difference - Vote Conservative) - 3,044

Richard Thomas Boycott RODGERS (The Common Good) - 91

Iris RYDER (Green Party) - 255

James William STARKEY (National Front Britain for the British) - 246

Iain David WRIGHT (The Labour Party Candidate) - 12,752

The turnout was 45.79%