A BY-election for the seat formerly held by the late council leader David Greenhalgh has been comfortably held by the Conservatives.

Amy Cowen is the new Tory member for Bromley Cross ward on Bolton Council.

The vote on Thursday night saw her amass 1,732 votes, streets ahead of the Labour candidate Emily Mort, on 409.

Elizabeth Spencer, for the Greens, got 165 votes, Bolton for Change's Laura Armstrong received 99 and Liberal Democrat James Haslam 68.

Cllr Cowen was already a well-known figure as the chair of Epic Egerton, a committee looking to improve Egerton Park.

Her election will see her working alongside fellow Conservatives, Cllr Nadim Muslim and Cllr Samantha Connor, for Bromley Cross.

Before she was elected, she told The Bolton News: "For many years I worked with David in the local community, as he supported Epic Egerton of which I am Chairman and various other community projects that we were both involved with.

"No one, including myself, could ever replace David but I will do my best to represent the people of Bromley Cross and Egerton if elected.

"What makes our area great is that we believe in community and always come together to support each other."

Cllr Greenhalgh died aged 53 last July.