BOROUGH councillor Frank Warby is now a town councillor for the Risbygate ward in Bury St Edmunds following yesterday’s by-election.

The former town mayor, who is a Conservative St Edmundsbury Borough Councillor for Moreton Hall, polled 198 votes, beating Labour’s Nicola Popham who got 186.

Conservative councillors are once again in the majority on Bury St Edmunds Town Council, with nine members out of the 17 total.

Mr Warby said: “I am delighted to be back on the town council, and will do my very best to repay the trust that Risbygate voters have put in me.”

The last time that Conservatives had an overall majority was in 2009. In the May 2011 elections Labour took control of the council with all but one of their councillors being elected unopposed.

Currently Labour holds the positions of chairman and vice-chairman of the council and of its main committees.

This situation could now change at the May annual meeting, when all these posts are subject to re-election.