The Liberal Democrats have held a Dorchester town council seat, with the Green Party candidate taking second place in last week's by-election.

The Liberal Democrats have an overwhelming majority on the town council.

The winning candidate, Katharine Reid, polled double the votes of her nearest rival.

The Dorchester East seat became vacant following the resignation of long-serving Lib Dem councillor Tony Lyall, after policy differences with the local party.

Full results were as follows:

• Katharine Reid, Liberal Democrat - 480
• Poppy Farmer, Green Party - 240
• Emma Hill, Independent - 181
• Peter Stein, Conservative - 168
• Barry Thompson - 142

The ward has just under 4,000 electors with 1,213 ballot papers issued on July 20, a turnout of 30.3 per cent.