The Conservatives have comfortably held the Sleaford and North Hykeham seat with Ukip the runner-up in the parliamentary by-election.

Tory candidate Caroline Johnson will be the new MP after winning 17,570 votes, beating Ukip's Victoria Ayling, who had 4,426.

It was a bad result for Labour, slipping from second place at the 2015 general election to fourth, behind the Liberal Democrats.

Consultant paediatrician Dr Johnson said her presence at Westminster would bolster Theresa May's majority and support the Prime Minister on Brexit.

Dr Caroline Johnson (Conservative) 17,570 (53.51%, -2.68%)

Victoria Ayling (UKIP) 4,426 (13.48%, -2.21%)

Ross Pepper (Liberal Democrat) 3,606 (10.98%, +5.33%)

Jim Clarke (Labour) 3,363 (10.24%, -7.02%)

Marianne Overton (Lincs Ind) 2,892 (8.81%, +3.59%)

Sarah Stock (Ind) 462 (1.41%)

The Iconic Arty-Pole (Loony) 200 (0.61%)

Paul Coyne (ND) 186 (0.57%)

Mark Suffield (ND) 74 (0.23%)

David Bishop (BP Elvis) 55 (0.17%)

C maj 13,144 (40.03%)

0.24% swing C to UKIP