H'ANGUS the Monkey caused a political sensation early this morning when he became the first elected mayor of Hartlepool.

In the first vote, Stuart Drummond - the monkey - polled 5,696 votes, Leo Gillen 5,438, Ian Cameron, (Independent), 5,174, Arthur Preece, (Liberal Democrat), 1,675, and Stephen Close (Conservative), 1,561.

With a second round of transferred votes confirming the win by 345, making political history.

What started out as a joke by Hartlepool Football Club mascot Mr Drummond ended with him sweeping away all the other political parties to storm to victory.

Ironically, the town which hanged a monkey during Napoleonic times after the locals mistook it for a hairy French spy has elected one to its top job, paying £53,000 a year.

The result will be seen as a humiliation for Prime Minister Tony Blair and his Government, who championed the idea of elected mayors.

It was The Northern Echo which revealed on April 4 that Mr Drummond had decided to stand for mayor, but initially nobody believed he could win.

But over recent days there had been suggestions that he was attracting widespread support.

Several days before the poll, bookmakers stopped taking bets on the monkey after a surge of interest from punters.

And last night the unimaginable came true at the count held in the Mill House Leisure Centre in the town. Counting began just after 9pm, and the tension was evident in the faces of members of rival parties as rumours swept the hall that H'Angus had won.

In sharp contrast to the seasoned grim-faced political campaigners, H'Angus supporters had smiles on their faces and gave thumbs-up signs.

Hartlepool MP Peter Mandelson arrived to offer his backing to Labour candidate Mr Gillen, mingling with party supporters in a show of solidarity.

Mr Mandelson was aware that if H'Angus won, the one-time Cabinet minister would have to establish a working relationship with a monkey, a situation for which no amount of training can prepare a politician.

However, Mr Mandelson put a brave face on the situation and said he was very proud that Hartlepool was one of the towns pioneering the new idea of elected mayors.

Just before 2.30am, a victorious Mr Drummond said: "It is a surprise, and it just proves that the people of Hartlepool do want a change.

"They are sick of the council and want to move forward.

"I am going to give them that change.

"There is a serious side behind it. I would hope for cooperation from all sides. I am not at all daunted.

"Forget about the monkey, it was only for promotional purposes.

"I am Stuart Drummond, I am the new Mayor of Hartlepool, not the monkey.

"I am an independent. That does not mean I will not listen to views of the other parties.

"Hartlepool is a great town, and with your help I would like to make it better."

Earlier he said: "I'm not really that nervous. I've just taken a step back and I'm really enjoying it.

"I think I am giving the big-wigs a run for their money."

Ron Harnish, his campaign manager, said: "H'Angus in the race has definitely increased interest in it.

"We've had other councillors come up to us to wish us well."

Confirmation of victory represents an amazing transformation for Mr Drummond, who is a 28-year-old call centre worker.