FORMER Liberal Democrat MP Tessa Munt has vowed she will stand again in the 2020 elections after losing her seat to Conservative James Heappey, who has called the chance to serve his constituency “the highest honour I can imagine”.

Ms Munt said: “I can look back with pride with what I’ve achieved as this area’s first full time MP.

“I’ve worked so hard to represent and defend this part of Somerset and I will run again, I’m absolutely passionate about the work that I’ve done – it is a passion, it’s not a job.”

Mr Heappey became the town’s new MP with a convincing victory in the Parliamentary elections on Thursday, receiving 26,247 votes - with Ms Munt coming second with 18,662.

He said: “Last Thursday voters bestowed on me the highest honour I can imagine and this week, here I am, representing them in Parliament.

I am clear that whilst two years of campaigning was indeed hard work, the real work now begins as I seek to give our community a new voice in Parliament.”

UKIP’s Helen Hims was third with 5644 while Labour candidate Chris Inchley received 3780 votes and Jon Cousins of the Green Party received 2331.

The remaining votes were split between Independent candidate Paul Arnold (83), Dave Dobbs of the Birthday Party (81) and independent candidate Gypsy Watkins (76). There was a 71.9% voter turn out - the largest since the year 2000.