IT was a hat trick of election victories for the Conservatives in Chiltern this week as they also swept to success at parish and district council level.

With Anthony Stanfeld topping the polls in the Police and Crime Commissioner vote, residents of Chesham and Chalfont St Peter also voted Tory in byelections on Thursday.

Jonathan Rush stormed to victory in the Central ward, representing Chalfont St Peter on Chiltern District Council, by claiming nearly three quarters of the votes cast.

The Conservatives retained the seat vacated by Martyn Groves, who stood down to become an army chaplain, by polling 495 out of the 669 votes cast - dwarfing the 62 claimed by runner-up David Rafferty of the Liberal Democrats.

Meanwhile the Waterside ward on Chesham Town Council stays blue after Christine Boxer topped the poll to find a replacement for former mayor Jane Bramwell, who resigned earlier this year.

She received 344 votes, compared to 122 polled by runner-up Francis Holly of the Lib Dems - himself a former town councillor - and the 86 claimed by Green Party candidate Phil Folly, who finished third.

Turnout for the Central byelection was 19.98 per cent, while it was 26.25 per cent in Waterside.

Conservative Party agent Philip Dumville said: “It is a great credit to the two candidates and their teams."