Conservative candidate Caroline Johnson has won the Sleaford and North Hykeham by-election.

The Tory party held onto the seat which became vacant after MP Stephen Phillips quit, citing "irreconcilable policy differences" with the government.

Dr Johnson, a consultant paediatrician, won 17,570 votes to beat UKIP's Victoria Ayling, who had 4,426.

Labour slipped from second place in the 2015 general election to fourth.