INDEPENDENT councillor Geoff Coombs has been elected as North Somerset Council’s ward member for Backwell and Barrow Gurney.

Mr Coombs, of Barrow Court Lane, gained 816 votes while Conservative candidate Peter Burden came second with 314. Labour’s Terry Connell scored 124 votes while Liberal Democrat Nick Alderton took 60 votes.

Mr Coombs is also the chairman of Barrow Gurney Parish Council and will now join councillor Karen Barclay as a ward councillor for Backwell, Barrow Gurney, Flax Bourton, Brockley and Felton.

The by-election was held after the sudden death of popular councillor Tom Collinson.

Speaking after the result, Mr Coombs said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have been appointed. It’s built on the groundwork Tom Collinson has done to establish independent councillors in Backwell.

“I hope I can take forward the work he had been working so hard on in recent years.”

One of the key areas Mr Coombs is now planning to focus on is the Backwell Neighbourhood Plan.