TIM Aker added 'UKIP councillor' to his political CV as he won the Aveley & Uplands by-election.

Mr Aker, elected as a UKIP MEP for the Eastern Region in May, received 747 votes and 40 per cent of the vote share to win the seat on Thurrock Council.

He saw off competition from the Conservative candidate Teresa Webster, beating her by more than 220 votes.

Labour's John O'Regan polled 338 votes (18.5 per cent) while independent candidate Eddie Stringer received 217 votes (11.8 per cent) as 28.42 per cent of the ward's electorate came out to vote.

Mr Aker, 29, will now look to win the Thurrock parliamentary seat in May after winning in Aveley at his thrird attempt.

And the UKIP man will have to balance a job in Brussels as MEP, a hotly anticpated general election fight and a role on the council.

But he has moved to ensure residents he will be able to do better by them occupying roles as both a councillor and an MEP.

"I'm a casework MEP," he said after the result was announced. "I've got clout to deliver for Aveley as I already have with residents all over the borough. Now I can deliver better for Aveley, i'm still there for any residents across the borough who has got an issue and we can get things done.

"We're not promising miracles but i'm here to work for the whole community, whatever their political preference, because I love this borough, I was born here and I live here and I want it to be better for the residents."

On announcing his intention to stand, Mr Aker pledged to hand the £8,000 councillor allowances to causes within Aveley he backed.

But he was criticised by opponents on Thursday night, who claim it is questionable as to whether or not he will be able to fulfill both roles.

It was also noted that Labour's vote share was the only one to increase, as they gained 2.5 per cent more of the vote share than in the previous election in this ward.

UKIP and the Conservatives vote share fell by 6.6 per cent and five per cent respectively.

The by-election was called following the sad death of Maggie O'Keeffe-Ray, who won the seat by a landslide for UKIP in May.

The seat has been a Conservative stronghold since the mid-90s, but that trend was broken by Robert Ray, Maggie's husband in 2012.

The result in this by-election was not as convincing as Maggie's win in May, but on an emotional night for Mr Aker and Thurrock UKIP, they pulled in enough votes to retain the seat.

Mr Aker added: "I  never wanted this to happen. Maggie should still be here, working for the residents of Aveley but i've done her proud. We ran a positive campaign."

More reaction to tonight's result to follow.