A LABOUR councillor who lost her seat on Scarborough Borough Council two weeks before she was due to be come mayor, has been re-elected - as a Conservative.

Eileen Vickers, of Osgodby, beat Independent Amanda Robinson by 14 votes in a by-election in the resort's Ramshill Ward, retaining the seat for the Conservatives.

However, in another by-election in the Stepney Ward, the Tories lost a seat to the Green Party, where long-standing candidate Jonathon Dixon beat Heather Phililips the Conservative by 88 votes.

Mr Dixon had previously stood for the borough and North Yorkshire County Councils, and in Parliamentary elections.

The British National Party stood in Scarborough for the first time and their candidate, Trisha Scott polled 154 votes.

The by-elections were caused by the resignations of Conservatives Christina Davenport and Kath Johnson.

Ramshill Ward: Eileen Vickers (C) 258, Amanda Robinson (Ind) 244, Andy Sharp (Lab) 174, Mike Heslop-Mullens (LD) 71. Turnout 26.2%

Stepney Ward: Jonathan Dixon (Green) 341, Heather Phillips (C) 253,Margaret Pitts (LD) 209, Pat Marsburg (L) 181 Trisha Scott (BNP) 154, Neil Buglass (Ind) 96. Turnout 32.3%