ELECTION 2021: Downham contest settled by two votes as West Norfolk parish results declared

The final results from Thursday's local elections in West Norfolk have been announced today.

Votes from by-elections to the Downham town council and the Clenchwarton parish council were counted at the borough authority's headquarters in Lynn this morning.

And there was a particularly close contest in the Downham North ward, where four candidates were contesting three vacant seats.

Simon Gomes-Da Costa edged out James Leach by just two votes - 282 to 280 - for the third seat, behind Justin Lewis and Daniel Jordan.

But it was a more comfortable morning for borough councillor Josie Ratcliffe, who won a seat in the Old Town ward, and market trader Steve Moyses, who was victorious in the South ward.

In the Clenchwarton count, Canon Alan Bell defeated Karl Tordoff by a margin of almost two to one.

Meanwhile, in Brancaster, Tom de Winton and Richard Lewis were elected to the parish council unopposed.

But a scheduled contest in Thornham will have to be re-run after no valid nominations came forward.

Today's full results are as follows. Each election is for one councillor unless stated:

Clenchwarton: Alan Bell, 448 votes; Karl Tordoff, 231.

Downham North ward (three councillors elected): Justin Lewis, 461 votes; Daniel Jordan, 403; Simon Gomes-Da Costa, 282; James Tiberius Leach, 280.

Downham Old Town ward: Josie Ratcliffe, 370 votes; Tony Richard John Leach, 259.

Downham South ward: Steve Moyses, 459 votes; Mark Eastwood, 281.