LABOUR has acknowledged that campaign material distributed ahead of Thursday's Nythe Parish Council by-election was not of the standard to be expected from a national party.

The curious leaflets, circulated in support of Labour candidates Brian Cockbill and Derique Montaut, appeared to have been created using a marker pen and a photocopier and contained a number of glaring spelling and grammar mistakes.

Swindon Labour leader, Jim Grant, said: “While we 100 per cent support the message put across in this leaflet, it is clearly not the best constructed leaflet Labour have put through people’s letterboxes.

“I take full responsibility for this and will ensure future leaflets are of a good quality.”

Mr Cockbill and Coun Montaut finished third and fourth respectively in the four-way contest.

A 24.5 per cent turnout saw Conservative David Bell and Independent Gerry Cruse elected to fill the two vacant seats on Nythe Parish Council.

Coun Bell said: “I thought the turnout was really quite high and I’m pleased to have the people’s confidence to have me as their parish councillor.

“Residents have raised a number of issues with me and I will now take those forward to see if we can bring in some changes.”

The chairman of Nythe Parish Council, Coun Dale Heenan, welcomed the result.

He said: “Thank you to all the residents who came out to vote on a cold February day. one in four people in Nythe took part which is great turnout for a parish election and shows people do take an interest in their local area.

“Congratulations to David and Gerry on being elected, and we look forward to working with them to improve Nythe. Commiserations to Brian and Derique."

The next Nythe Parish meeting is on Monday at 6.30pm. It will consider the budget for 2017/18.