A NORTH Wiltshire MP has survived a bid to oust him from his parliamentary seat.

On Monday night, members of the local Conservative Association crammed into the Wiltshire Golf and Country Club to vote on whether Mr Gray should face another ballot on his position as candidate at the next General Election.

But the MP was victorious with 181 voting against the motion to hold a new ballot and 104 registering their support for one.

After the meeting, Mr Gray said it had been a "hellish" period for him, but he was delighted to have been supported.

"I am naturally very pleased indeed to have received a very good level of support from the members," he said.

"That draws a line under it and I hope all of those who spoke against me will say that's fine, that's democracy and let's work towards moving the association forward'.

"I will certainly go out of my way to mend whatever bridges need to be mended."