A former council cabinet member who lost her seat on the local authority in May has vowed to "work hard" and "support people" through a "hard winter" after winning a by-election.

Hannah Roberts, the council's former housing cabinet member lost her Royton North seat in the local elections in May.

But on Thursday night the Labour candidate was victorious in the Hollinwood by-election after polling 718 votes in a narrow result.

She attracted 79 votes more than the runner-up, Conservative candidate, Kamran Ghafoor.

The by-election had been held following the unexpected death of Cllr Jean Stretton in September at the age of 64.

In a statement made after her victory, Cllr Roberts said: "I would like to thank everyone who voted for me.

"I spoke to lots of residents who are angry about the mess the Tories have made of the economy and want to know why they have to pay for the government’s mistakes.

"I pledged in the campaign to work hard and to support people through what will be a hard winter for too many of us, and I will keep my word."

Independent candidate Barbara Victoria Whitehead finished third with 152 votes, while John Lawrence, who stood for National Housing Party Putting UK First, attracted 59 votes and the Liberal Democrats' Dominic Cadman got 36.

The turnout was recorded as 21 per cent of eligible voters.

Council leader, Cllr Amanda Chadderton, said: "I’m thrilled that the people of Hollinwood have elected Hannah.

"She will be a wonderful councillor for the ward and be a real asset to Oldham with her presence back in the council chamber."

Cllr Roberts will work alongside fellow Labour Hollinwood representatives Cllr Kyle Phythian and Cllr Steve Williams.

Cllr Chadderton said: "I’m looking forward to working with Hannah, Steve and Kyle to deliver for the people of Hollinwood."

Before her death, Cllr Stretton, who had been the first female leader of Oldham Council between 2016 and 2018, had served as a councillor of Hollinwood for 19 years.

The by-election was the first to be held in Oldham since 2018, when the ward of Failsworth East was contested.

Despite the by-election result, Hollinwood, along with the other 59 council seats, will be contested again in May as part of the "all out" elections in the borough.