TORIES have been celebrating after sweeping to victory in the North Tyneside mayoral by-election.
Borough councillor Linda Arkley won on a 4.5 per cent swing - as much as can be calculated in such a contest - compared to May last year.
The 51-year-old nurse, who becomes the second elected mayor of North Tyneside, beat Labour Euro MP Dr Gordon Adam with a majority of 4,861 and a total of 21,288 votes, compared with Labour's 16,427.
The by-election was called after Chris Morgan resigned as mayor following his arrest for an alleged indecent assault and allegedly possessing computer child porn - accusations he has denied.
Coun Arkley, said: "I intend to take this and the Conservative manifesto forward.
"We have been delivering better services and aim to improve these even further."
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