THE LIBERAL Democrats are celebrating a 'stunning' victory in Tory heartland last night.

Newcomer Kieran Mullins took the West Oxfordshire seat of Hailey, Minster Lovell and Leafield Ward from the Conservatives with just 63 votes.

The seat became vacant after the death of West Oxfordshire District Council cabinet member Warwick Robinson in September.

Last night, software consultant Mr Mullins took 567 votes over Conservative candidate John Kay's 504.

He said: "I'm feeling amazing, it's been brilliant.

"We put all this hard work in but I was still wondering if we could actually do it."

The Lib Dems and Tories were followed by Labour's Stuart McGibbon (71), the Green Party's Andrew Wright (38) and UKIP's Charles Stanley (35).

The turnout was a slightly-higher-than-average 38.12 per cent.

Mr Mullins has never been a councillor before and only joined the Lid Dem party last year.

He said he was inspired by the 'decency' of the party and pledged to tackle local issues, including the proposed closure of Witney's Deer Park medical centre.

"We are fighting against the closure because it doesn't make sense.

"Because of housing development around here there are going to be more people in the area but fewer NHS services available.

"People already have a two-and-a-half week waiting time."

He added: "I intend to do whatever I can do address these issues and make West Oxfordshire a better place to live."

Mr Mullins lives in Leafield with his wife and their two daughters.