JOHN Campion was re-elected as police and crime commissioner for West Mercia, which includes Herefordshire, with a reduced majority on a low turnout.

Following the result of the vote, announced at the Tennis Centre in Telford & Wrekin, the Conservative candidate said: “I would like to thank communities across the three counties who have once again put their trust in me to deliver a safer West Mercia.

"I’m really humbled to have the support of communities across West Mercia, on a difficult day nationally for the Conservatives, but still winning here in West Mercia,” he said.

“I am proud of what I have achieved as your PCC over the last eight years, but I know there’s much more that needs to be done.”

The result in full was:

The turnout was 21.7 per cent, down over a third on the previous West Mercia PCC election of 2021, when Mr Campion took 55.3 per cent of votes.

In 2021 he was elected with a majority of more than 100,000, but polled just 10,000 votes more than his Labour rival Richard Overton in the result announced on Friday.

He paid tribute to his team, who he said had worked hard to "articulate a positive vision" and he said that played a part in his win.

He also said the party needed to "rally round" that positive message, but that he was happy to "fight for another Conservative government".

He must now produce a new Police and Crime Plan setting out strategic aims and priorities for his four-year term in office.

The PCC role includes holding the Chief Constable to account, providing a strong voice for the public, commissioning services for victims of crime, ensuring local priorities are joined up between partners and determining how an annual budget of over £200m is spent.