CONSERVATIVES bucked the national trend when they beat UKIP in a by-election in Scarborough Council’s Derwent Valley ward.

It had been caused by the death of UKIP member, Councillor Mick Jay-Hamner, a former independent member of the authority.

Legal company finance officer Heather Phillips polled 42 per cent of the votes with 632, with Michael James (UKIP) second with 383. Labour’s Marcus Missen polled 183 and the Liberal Democrat candidate, Graham Lockwood, 109, Michael Cutler (Green Party) 99 and David Wright (Independent) 96.