A BY-ELECTION will be held in Darlington on Thursday (May 22), to replace a long-serving councillor who died earlier this year.

Ron Lewis represented the Mowden ward for almost 27 years.

He died in January, aged 77.

The election on Thursday will be held alongside the European elections.

A polling station will be held at Mowden Infant School, in Bushel Hill Drive, from 7am to 10pm.

The candidates are Liberal Democrat Hilary Allen, Charlotte Bull of the UK Independence Party, Pauline Culley for the Conservatives and Labour'sJackie Saint.

The result of the by-election will be announced on Friday (May 23) morning.