Chris Vince, Labour Parliamentary candidate for Chelmsford has thanked the city's residents for their support during the general election campaign.

He said: "This was a great result for Labour in Chelmsford, with our vote up by more than 50 per cent, whilst it was a crushing result for the Liberal Democrats, who have paid the price for propping up a divisive right-wing Tory led coalition.

"Labour is now the only progressive alternative to the Tories in Chelmsford, finishing in a clear second place, with the Liberal Democrats trailing into a humiliating fourth place behind UKIP, having lost 14000 votes since 2010.

"Labour is back in Chelmsford, with a result that is testament to the fantastic team of Labour activists that not only worked extremely hard during this election campaign, but have done so for the past 18 months.

"It is now down to Labour to take the fight for a better future into defeating the Tory Party here on behalf of those in Chelmsford, the city of my birth.

"Labour stand ready to fight for all those who desperately need a strong and vibrant Labour Party in the years ahead and whilst thanking all of those who voted for me on May 7, I invite others to join us to ensure that the poor and most vulnerable do not pay the price for another five years of Tory government.’ Chris Vince