An Independent candidate was the closed challenger in one ward as Labour held on to three seats in a Camden Council by-elections.

Voters in the Camden Square ward headed to the polls on Thursday (September 5) after former councillor Danny Beales resigned after becoming MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip in the general election on July 4.

Tricia Leman, standing for the Labour Party, won 465 votes, from a turnout of 16% with a postal vote turnout of 36%.

Independent candidate Ali Farah came second with 164 votes.

Third was the Green Party's James Dicker with 133 votes, followed by Alex Matthews for the Liberal Democrats with 89.

Another Independent, Jasper Warwick, received 75 votes with the Local Conservative Party's Esmerelda Apoke in sixth place with 48.

Ali Farah, Independent, came second in the Camden Square by-electionAli Farah, Independent, came second in the Camden Square by-election (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

Ali Farah, a community leader for many minority communities in Camden including Somali, Sudanese, Iraqi and Afghan groups, said it was his first time standing.

He said the biggest issues he heard from residents he supports were housing, knife crime, youth unemployment, the lack of youth facilities and the environment.

"I think we achieved a lot, learned a lot and now we are going to take it forward to the next election," he said.

James Dicker was happy with the Green turnout in Camden Square after coming in third placeJames Dicker was happy with the Green turnout in Camden Square after coming in third place (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

Mr Dicker said it was a "great green turnout".

"It's nice to see the support for us in this area. I don't think anyone expected anything different from the Labour Party. They have a lot of people and more manpower."

He added: "If you own your own home the issues are green spaces, and crime is important.

"For renters like myself a lot of people are unhappy with the state of their homes, especially if they live on estates.

"People want to see a better Camden and they voted for who will deliver that and I hope they do."

Two other by-elections took place on Thursday in Kentish Town South, won by Labour's Joseph Ball and Kilburn, won by Labour's Robert Thompson.

Camden Council leader Richard Olszewski, centre, with Labour by-election winners on his right - Robert Thompson, Tricia Leman and far right Joseph BallCamden Council leader Richard Olszewski, centre, with Labour by-election winners on his right - Robert Thompson, Tricia Leman and far right Joseph Ball (Image: Nathalie Raffray)

Camden Council leader Cllr Richard Olszewski said: "I'm delighted for each of the candidates who worked extremely hard in the campaign. We spoke to thousands of residents and listened to their concerns.

"We campaigned positively on our record as a Labour council delivering quality pubic services and supporting thousands of people in Camden dealing with very difficult circumstances.

"The votes for our candidates were a reflection of our record as a council and we're looking to the future to do even better."

Cllr Olszewski admitted he would have liked to have seen a higher turnout.

"We have had a lot of politics. We're coming on the back of a huge general election campaign and it is a feature of by-elections that turnouts are lower and we had terrible weather on polling day.

"Nevertheless, despite the low turnout the Labour majorities were a strong endorsement of each of the candidates personally and of the Labour council."