Farnham town mayor Alan Earwaker is the new Waverley borough councillor for Farnham Castle ward.

Representing the Farnham Residents Group, Cllr Earwaker won by 307 votes – just 28 ahead of the Lib Dems’ Theresa Meredith-Hardy.

However, there was only a 25 per cent turnout for the by-election and only 944 votes were sent in.

Labour’s John Gaskell came third and the Conservatives’ Aly Fitch fourth.

Cllr Earwaker’s win means the Farnham Residents hold onto the seat vacated by councillor Heather McLean earlier this year.

Alan Earwaker was elected for the Farnham Residents, ahead of the Lib Dems, Labour and Conservative candidates
Alan Earwaker was elected for the Farnham Residents, ahead of the Lib Dems, Labour and Conservative candidates (WBC)

It also adds to the debate over which party is most likely to rival the Conservatives at the general election – with the Lib Dems polling 30 per cent of the vote ahead of Labour’s 23 per cent.

The result makes for gloomy reading for the Tories though – with the once all-conquering party polling just 15 per cent of the vote. This compares to the 62 per cent Tory candidates collectively polled at the last borough election before the rise of the Farnham Residents in 2011.

A Farnham Residents spokesman said: “Despite the three national political parties efforts, Alan Earwaker was declared the new Waverley borough councillor at the by-election count last night at Farnham's Memorial Hall.

“With a relatively low turnout of 25 per cent and four candidates contesting this by-election, it had the makings of a close run thing – and it was! Congratulations Councillor Alan Earwaker, another Farnham voice at Waverley.”