The city’s Greens enjoyed another successful day at the polls as the party tightened its grip on power in the Guildhall.

Katie Collier became the latest Green councillor to join Worcester City Council after she earned a nearly 400-vote win against the Conservatives in the Warndon Parish South ward on Thursday (October 19).

The by-election was held in the ward following the death of long-standing Tory councillor Andy Roberts in August.

There were five candidates in the race with winner Katie Collier picking up 733 votes for the Greens.

Janet Lippett finished in second place for the Conservatives with 340 votes – a long way behind recent tallies for the party and further away from a 500-vote majority earned by Andy Roberts just 18 months ago.

Cllr Katie Collier said: “I just want to thank everyone who helped to get me elected.

“There were so many volunteers and campaigners who helped us. I’d like to give special thanks to the people of Warndon Parish South, who’ve allowed me to fight for a fairer, greener future here in Worcester.

“I’m delighted to be able to work alongside so many other Green councillors and can’t wait to start delivering for the fantastic people of Warndon Parish South and driving the change that they so deserve.”

Sunil Desayrah earned a third-place finish for Labour with 171 votes, Paul Jagger came fourth for the Lib Dems with 92 votes and Paul Hickling finished in fifth and last place for Reform UK with 29 votes.

Turnout was 30 per cent.

The current political makeup of the city council sees Labour, with 13 councillors, and the Greens, now with a strengthened hand of 11 councillors, running a joint administration.

The Tories are currently on seven seats with the Liberal Democrats holding four.

Ms Collier became the latest Green councillor to join Worcester City Council following a number of impressive wins for the party in May – where it increased its share of councillors from six to 10.

The new Green councillor for Warndon Parish South takes the party’s Guildhall total to 11 – just two behind Labour as the biggest party.

Green campaigner and Warndon parish councillor Katie Collier, who finished fifth for the party in last year’s seven-candidate Bedwardine city council election, became the latest person to help turn a previous Tory stronghold towards the Greens.

The election in Warndon Parish South in May this year saw Andrew Cross elected for the Greens – defeating Tory candidate Lucy Hodgson by nearly 800 votes.

Thursday’s victory for the Greens means the ward is now held entirely by the party.

Andrew Cross was also successful for the Green Party in the by-election held corresponding Warndon division for a place on Worcestershire County Council – a seat that was also held by Andy Roberts.