MORE THAN 300 people voted in a recent Caldicot by-election which saw Labour candidate Oliver Edwards elected for Castle ward.

Mr Edwards, who was running against Plaid Cymru hopeful Linda Ayre, won by a margin of 35 votes with the final results seeing Labour with 173 and Plaid Cymru with 138.

The 23-year-old, who only joined the Labour party in November last year, will step into the role vacated by fellow Labour councillor Alan Davies earlier this year.

He is keen to emulate his father Bill, who was a town and county councillor before his death in 2009.

Speaking before the election, he said: “He was my inspiration and I’m definitely looking to follow in his footsteps.

“If I’m elected I want to engage with the young people in the area and encourage them to get involved with local and national politics.”

According to councillor Tony Easson, who assisted in the campaign, Mr Edwards will become one of the youngest members in Caldicot town council history - a title once shared by his late father.

Councillor Easson hailed the Labour victory and said that Mr Edwards would be a ‘positive addition’ to the group.

He added: “We’re very pleased with the result as he brings some much-needed youth onto the council.

“This will give him a chance to get his feet under the table and get a feel for the job.”