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A former Coronation Street actress was heckled by far-right rivals after being voted in to replace killed MP Jo Cox.

Labour candidate Tracy Brabin won in Batley and Spen after a divisive campaign following the shooting of Mrs Cox a week before the EU referendum.

The Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Ukip and the Greens decided not to put up candidates out of respect for Mrs Cox.

She finished ahead of English Demorcrat Therese Hirst - one of nine independent and fringe party candidates to contest the seat in a list which included representatives of the far-right National Front and BNP, who all lost their deposits.

Turnout was just 25 per cent - one of the lowest by-election turnouts since the Second World War.

In her acceptance speech, Ms Brabin - who took almost 82 per cent of the vote - said her win was a victory for "hope and unity".

"This has been a difficult experience for all of us and tonight is a bittersweet occasion for me. That this by-election has had to take place at all is a tragedy," she said.

"I hope Jo will be proud tonight of our community. We have shown that we stand together with one voice choosing unity and hope."

Ms Brabin, who was heckled loudly by supporters of some of the rival candidates, said many of the people who voted for her told her they did not normally support Labour.

"Some because of what Jo meant to them. Some because they wanted to send a message that our community stand united. Some as a reaction to some of the fringe parties who chose to try and use this tragic by-election as an opportunity to sow division," she said.

Asked about the turmoil in the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn, she told Sky News: "I am not tribal in that regard but my absolute focus will be on the people of Batley and Spen. My first job is to be an excellent parliamentarian and also a constituency MP.

"I have had huge support from the PLP (Parliamentary Labour Party), lots of support from the last few days, people coming up from all sides if you want to talk about side. I think there is a real yearning for unity in the party."

Asked about the heckling, Ms Brabin said: "It just shows who they are.

"The people of Batley and Spen have given me a mandate but they've lost their deposits.

"I get to work and feel very supported. I feel the people of Batley and Spen behind me."

Asked about the turnout she said: "Well, it's a wet Thursday in October. But I think 85%, or whatever it is, is very good.

"And I feel that the community have said what was for us a tragedy has turned into an opportunity to sow hatred and they didn't buy it."

Meanwhile in Oxfordshire, Witney and West Oxfordshire residents chose Conservative Robert Courts to replace David Cameron, albeit with a smaller majority.