A WAR of words has erupted between Labour and the Conservatives after the parties lost out in the Lymm South borough council by-election.

Liberal Democrat Anna Fradgley secured election success on Thursday after winning 769 votes, with Tory Stephen Taylor winning 649 and Labour's Trish Cockayne 328.

But Ms Cockayne said the result shows Lymm residents 'rejected an outsider and cheerleader for Tory cuts to represent them at the Town Hall'.

She added: "Clearly, Theresa May's policies have become unpalatable even within their own heartlands.

"Lymm like the rest of the nation, is no longer tolerating harsh Tory cuts to local government which unnecessarily make people's lives a misery."

However, it has sparked a response from Phil Marshall, deputy chairman of Warrington Conservatives.

He said: "Despite previous claims, it is Warrington Labour who appear to be 'rattled' after coming a trailing third place in both the parish and borough Lymm South elections.

"We fielded a borough candidate based on capability not postcode – this clearly resonated with many residents and secured twice the vote of Labour's more 'local' candidate.

"In the parish election, our Conservative candidate won by a comfortable margin.

"We are delighted that Andy Carter will now join Lymm Parish Council to work alongside Cllr Kath Buckley to achieve better representation for Lymm South."