December 8, 2000 11:08: THE Labour Party retained Three Rivers District Council's Hayling Ward last night (Thursday) as Councillor David Saxon swept to victory in a by-election.

Labour received 210 of the 406 votes cast for the seat, left vacant following the death of Councillor Glyn Abraham.

Councillor Saxon said: "I am very happy with the result. I think we have shown the Tories that no matter what big guns they bring out, they have not got a chance in South Oxhey and never will have."

It was also a good night for the Liberal Democrats' candidate Mr Ray Tulley, who pushed the Conservative Party into third place with 84 votes.

He said: "We are extremely pleased. Without a doubt, we are now the second party in South Oxhey."

Mr Graham Denham, representing the Conservative Party, polled 74 votes.

He said: "We are disappointed because we wanted to do things for the people of Hayling Ward. We will be back and we intend to win the ward at the next district council election."

Mr Ian Edwards, of the British National Party, received 37 votes nine per cent of the total.

In wet conditions, the turn out was only 16.9 per cent.