PLAID Cymru were victorious in the Carmarthenshire County Council by-election held last week, meaning they keep two county councillors in the Saron Ward.

Karen Davies won more than 65 per cent of the vote in the by-election, called following the death of her husband Councillor Alun Davies earlier this year, who had held the position since 2012.

Mrs Davies is a pharmacist, community councillor and chair of Llandybie Community Council, as well as now winning the vote to represent Plaid Cymru on Carmarthenshire County Council.

The election was held on Thursday, July 19, with ballots counted at Saron Hall after polls had closed at 10pm that night.

The turnout for the by-election was 35 per cent.

Shortly after 11pm the election’s returning officer declared Karen Davies the winner.

She collected 747 of the 1146 votes cast.

Following Mrs Davies was Labour’s Tom Fallows, who received 249 votes, followed by Conservative Aled Crow with 146 votes, and Liberal Democrat Caryl Tandy who received 14 votes.

Speaking after the victory was announced, Carmarthenshire County Councillor Karen Davies said: “This was a by-election nobody, least of all myself, wanted to see.

“I’m grateful to the other candidates for the spirit in which they contested the election, and I am grateful for the support I have been given by my Plaid Cymru friends and team members over the last few months.

“I would also like to thank them all, of course, for all of their hard work during the election.

“I am particularly grateful to have received the backing of residents from Penybanc, Capel Hendre, Saron, Cwmgwili and Gwynfryn.

“I am looking forward to working closely with my ward colleague, Councillor Carl Harris and the team in County Hall to do our very best for our local communities.”

The by-election also saw a large swing in votes from Labour to Plaid Cymru.

Labour lost 15 per cent of their votes, whilst Plaid Cymru picked up an extra 15.7 per cent, compared to the previous election in 2017.

Elsewhere, the Conservatives saw a 1.9 per cent dip in their support, while the Liberal Democrats improved their share of the vote by 1.2 per cent.