Still In the Hunt! Bedford Mayor Election: First Round Result

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Thu 17th Oct 2002

The Bedford Mayoral Election count for the first directly elected Mayor of Bedford has been suspended with the second round to be counted on Friday Morning. At the end of a long nights count, Christine McHugh and Frank Branston topped the poll and proceeded to the second round.

The full figures of the first round vote were:

• Bagchi (Labour) 4,114

• Branston (Better Bedford Party) 9,557

• Clifton (Independent) 1,893

• Dosanji (Independent) 218

• Foster (Independent) 1,826

• McHugh (Liberal Democrat) 4,711

• Powell (Green) 735

• Rose (Conservative) 4,661

The second round count will start at 9.55am on Friday, and the result will appear here as soon as possible on Friday.

Christine said:

"If six months ago we had said that we would beat BOTH Labour and the Tories in a Borough wide election, we'd have been told we were mad. Tonight we have done just that. We await the second round - clearly Frank Branston currently leading but we await the final result."

"Whatever the result, both I and the Liberal Democrats locally remain united in our desire to get the Best for Bedford."