LABOUR held onto the Bradford South seat by a comfortable margin, with Judith Cummins replacing outgoing MP Gerry Sutcliffe.

Cllr Cummins, who sits on Leeds City Council, said it would be an "honour and a privilege" to serve as the next MP for Bradford South.

And she promised to work hard to deliver for the people of her constituency.

Her 6,000 majority cemented Labour's position in the constituency, building on the 4,000 majority which Mr Sutcliffe had enjoyed there in 2010.

In her acceptance speech, Cllr Cummins said: "Thank you. It is an honour and a privilege to be stood here this morning duly elected as Labour MP for Bradford South.

"I promise I will stand up for local people."

She thanked returning officer Suzan Hemingway and her staff for running a well-organised election count, and also thanked her agent, Bradford Councillor Andrew Thornton.

She said: "I promise I will work hard and I will deliver for the people of Bradford South."

Rumours that Ukip would come second in Bradford South proved unfounded, with the Conservatives taking the runner-up spot with 9,878 votes.

Ukip's Jason Smith came third with 9,057 votes, followed by the Green party with 1,243 votes and finally the Liberal Democrats with 1,094 votes.

Speaking before the results were announced, Conservative candidate Tanya Graham said she had "really, really enjoyed" the campaign.

"It has been fabulous," she said.

Mr Sutcliffe, a former Labour sports minister, has stood down so he can work behind-the-scenes in politics.

He said he was looking forward to handing over the seat to someone new.

Speaking at the count in the Richard Dunn Sports Centre in Odsal, he said: "I'm looking forward to handing over. We have had a good campaign and Judith has done a good job.

"I have had 21 good years in Westminster, and it's time to pass the baton on.

"I want to concentrate more on the regional party and what is going on with devolution.

"An MP's role is a full time and it needs someone who can commit to that."

Mr Sutcliffe's career included a spell as Sports Minister in Gordon Brown's Labour Government - a period which he had always regarded as being among the high points.

After the 1997 General Election, Mr Sutcliffe was one of five Labour MPs in the Bradford district, with Marsha Singh in Bradford West, Terry Rooney in Bradford North, Chris Leslie in Shipley and Ann Cryer in Keighley.

But in recent years, he had been the only Labour MP left in the district. But last night's result means his successor Cllr Cummins is now one of three Labour MPs in the district.