THE SNP scored a double victory today in the Aberdeen City Council by-election.

Alex Nicoll was elected in the Midstocket/Rosemount ward in the fourth stage of counting, while Michael Hutchison won the George Street/Harbour ward in the first stage.

Mr Nicoll got 1,168 votes and Mr Hutchison 961.

Turnout in Midstocket/Rosemount was 2,872 (from a total electorate of 11,825). In the George Street/Harbour ward it was 1,898 (from 12,179).

Aberdeen City Council now looks like this: Labour – 17, Conservatives – 2, Independent Alliance – 3, SNP – 16, Liberal Democrat – 5.

The full results were:

Midstocket/Rosemount

Howard Gemmell (Scottish Labour Party) 605 votes

Tom Mason (Scottish Conservative and Unionist) 672 votes

Ken McLeod (Scottish Liberal Democrats) 238 votes

Alex Nicoll (Scottish National Party) 1,168 votes

Jennifer Phillips (Scottish Green Party) 170 votes

George Street/Harbour

Brian Davidson (Scottish Conservative and Unionist) 195 votes

Euan Davidson (Scottish Liberal Democrats) 96 votes

Michael Hutchison (Scottish National Party) 961 votes

Alex Jarvis (Scottish Green Party) 136 votes

Mike Scott (Scottish Labour Party) 490 votes