Hat-trick is a delight for ex-footballer Tony

MANSFIELD Mayor Tony Egginton described his third successive election victory as "the best hat-trick I've ever scored".

Former footballer Mr Egginton narrowly defeated Labour candidate Steve Yemm by 67 votes after two re-counts.

Mr Egginton, of the Mansfield Independent Forum party, was declared the winner just after 4pm yesterday after a dramatic afternoon at Mansfield Civic Centre.

Afterwards, he said: "I played football for Rotherham, but I can safely say this is the best hat-trick I've ever scored.

"I am absolutely delighted. We have fought a very good campaign, as did Steve and the Labour Party."

The initial vote was so close the top two candidates went through to a second stage.

Under the supplementary voting system used in mayoral elections, people vote for a first and second-choice candidate.

In the second round the number of second-choice votes for the top two candidates is added to their overall vote.

Mr Egginton received a total of 10,901 first-choice votes and 1,779 second-choice votes.

Mr Yemm received 11,732 first-choice votes and 881 second-choice, leaving him narrowly behind.

Mr Egginton has previously triumphed in mayoral elections in 2002 and 2007.

Mr Egginton has redrawn the boundaries of Mansfield District Council. There are 36 single-member wards, as opposed to the previous 19 two or three-member wards.

Meanwhile, Labour took control of Mansfield District Council from Mansfield Independent Forum.

Before the poll, the independent forum was the largest group on the council with 26 members. Labour had 15 seats and there were four Liberal Democrats and one Tory.

Labour now hold 26 seats while the remaining 10 were won by the independents.

Councillor Andy Wetton, leader of the Labour group, said: "It's very satisfying. We've been very hard working as a party. We are back in control of the council for the first time since 2003 and that's a great feeling when you've been involved, as I have, for the last nine years.

"You saw from the Mayor election results how close it was. I'm very disappointed that the system we operate for the election allowed the result to alter.

"Obviously Steve got the popular vote."

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