THE widow of a councillor who died suddenly has won his seat in a by-election.

Tory councillor Charlie Sambridge, 71, of Burrs Road, Clacton, was taken ill at a Tendring Council cabinet meeting in July following a stroke and died in hospital the following morning.

His widow, Conservative candidate Pam Sambridge, won the by-election for the Burrsville ward with a majority of 228 votes.

The death of Mr Sambridge, who was the councillor responsible for technical services, triggered a by-election which could have had major consequences for the balance of power on Tendring Council. Tendring First-led opposition would have had a 31-29 majority if they had won the seat. Tendring First had intended to put forward a candidate but their plans fell through.

Mrs Sambridge’s victory means the Tories and Tendring First are tied at 30-30, but the Tories have the chairman’s casting vote. She paid tribute to her late husband following the election results.

She said: “We have kept Charlie’s ward and will carry on helping people like he did.

“Charlie was very popular and the people have shown what they thought of him by electing me.”

The result means the Tories will remain in control of Tendring Council.

BY-ELECTION RESULT:

Burrsville

Pam Sambridge* (C) 455

Joyce O’Brien (Lib Dem) 227

Max Morris (Lab) 90

Chris Southall (Gn) 52

C hold

Maj: 228

Perc poll: 46