DESPITE the best efforts of political newcomer Mark Hooper in one of Labour's target seats, incumbent conservative Cllr Elizabeth Rigby held the Stifford Clays ward.

She won by a margin of 84 votes, one of the closest results on the night, 52 less than when she won the seat in 2018, when she desposed the leader of Indepenent Group, Graham NSnell.

Result:

• Elizabeth Rigby, Conservatives 749
• Mark Hooper, Labour 665

Majority 84 votes.

Electorate: 4,994. Ballot Papers Issued: 1,434 Turnout: 28.71%