The winning candidates in the Saffron Walden Castle ward for Uttlesford District Council are Heather Asker and Richard Freeman.

Councillor Asker and Conservatives Bob Eastham and David Sadler were the incumbents, but the latter two were not successful in Thursday’s election.

Councillor Freeman said: “That’s a result for a lot of hard work. I was a councillor for 12 years on the town council, and four years on the district as a Liberal Democrat. I think RFU is a fresh thing in politics with a very good message.

I felt it was worth giving it all the work I’ve got. You get the results you work for, and we worked very hard. There is still a long way to go – it is the start of a long journey.

“I hope we have changed the face of local politics.”

Mr Sadler said: “I’ve served the town for eight years, I’ve been privileged to serve the community I’ve grown up in. I have done a lot of good, and I’ve worked extremely hard for the board [town council].

“When you are coming up against a new party that promises to reject housing which they simply cannot do, I wasn’t going to lie to the electorate to say we could.”

Heather Asker* (Residents For Uttlesford) 914 votes

Arthur Coote (Labour) 305 votes

Bob Eastham (Conservative) 617 votes

Richard Freeman* (Residents For Uttlesford) 735 votes

Barbara Hughes (Liberal Democrats) 233 votes

Stephanie Law (UKIP) 188 votes

David Sadler (Conservative) 559 votes

Simon Trimnell (Labour) 268 votes

* denotes returned councillors