AS the nation went to the polls for the general election voters in south Durham also cast their votes in three county council and two town council by elections.

Durham County Council seats were up for grabs in Ferryhill, Willington and Hunwick and Barnard Castle West following the resignations of Pat McCourt (Lab), Joe Buckham (Lab) and Barbara Harrison (Con) respectively.

The results were:

FERRYHILL: William Lawrence (Green) 316, John Lindsay*(Lab) 2266, Joe Makepeace (Ind) 1989.

WILLINGTON AND HUNWICK: Mark James Quinn (Green) 301, Fraser Paul Tinsley* (Lab) 2169, Matthew Craig Todd (Ind) 1512.

BARNARD CASTLE WEST: Edward Henderson* (C) 2518, Philip John Hunt (Lab) 878, Thomas Julian Robinson (Green) 972.

Polls were also held for seats on Spennymoor Town Council following the resignation of Kevin Thompson and Shildon Town Council after Christopher Stokoe resigned, both were independent.

The results were:

MIDDLESTONE WARD OF SPENNYMOOR TOWN COUNCIL: Steven Alan Jones (Lab) 763*, Peter Michael Molloy (Ind) 223, Mark James Quinn (Middlestone Moor Resident) 130, Elizabeth Mary Wood (Spennymoor Indpendents People Before Politics) 354.

THICKLEY WARD OF SHILDON TOWN COUNCIL: Barbara Bates * (Lab) 766, George Lewis (Ind) 429.

Elected *.

The turnouts were between 49 per cent and 69.56 per cent.