A CRAVEN farmer who stood as a Referendum Party candidate against Conservative leader William Hague in the General Election has won the Skipton East by-election.

Alex Bentley joined the Conservative Party shortly after the election and won the battle for the county council seat.

However, the turnout was just 16.34 per cent as only 937 of the 5,734 electorate bothered to vote. In Skipton the turnout was barely five per cent.

Mr Bentley polled 313 votes, 82 more than Liberal Democrat Eric Jaquin. Independent John Spencer polled 209.

There was a bloody nose for Labour amid the petrol crisis. Despite wheeling in Government Minister Hugh Bayley and three Euro MPs to canvass, they finished bottom with 181 votes.

"It is a great honour to be chosen by the people in Skipton and Wharfedale," said Mr Bentley, a farmer and businessman from the top end of Upper Wharfedale

Mr Bentley polled 2,367 votes when he stood against William Hague, who had 23,326 votes.

Mr Bentley said he was convinced that Tony Blair would take Britain into a federal Europe if he won the General Election and decided to make a stand.

"About a month later I met William Hague and his views on Europe were the same as mine and he guaranteed there would be a vote by the British people before we went any further into Europe," said Mr Bentley. "I trust Mr Hague and I joined the Conservatives soon after that."

Mr Bentley admitted that he had differences with Skipton MP David Curry, who is seen as a pro-European. "I admit I do not agree with everything David Curry says. I have made that quite clear and I am not going to betray my beliefs," he said.

The seat was previously held by Independent Robert Heseltine, who resigned earlier this year after a conviction for false accounting.

It had been uncontested since 1985 when Mr Heseltine, then representing the Conservatives, won a close contest with 1,008 votes to the 1,000 polled by Liberal Claire Brooks. Back then the turnout was 51 per cent.

Liberal Democrat county councillor Mike Doyle, who represents Skipton West, said the turnout in Battle of Britain week was an insult to those who defended our skies in defence of democracy.

The count was held up for three quarters of an hour when ballot boxes from the Skipton polling stations went missing - the supervisor was unable to find her way to Bolton Abbey Village Hall, where the count was being held.