TORY leaders in Selby were left licking their wounds today after their second by-election defeat this year.

Labour candidate Rod Price took the Carlton ward last night with 282 votes - doubling Labour's majority at the 1999 local elections.

Conservative Margaret Hulme, who is a county councillor, polled 211 votes and Independent Maria Morris 112.

The Selby District Council by-election was called after the sudden death of Labour's Margaret Stone following a series of strokes.

It was a double blow for the Conservatives following Labour's landslide by-election victory in Fairburn with Brotherton in January.

Father-of-five Mr Price, an orthopaedic surgeon at Goole District Hospital, said today: "I'm pleased with the positive campaign fought by myself and my team.

"I hope to follow the fine example of Coun Stone."

Labour activists were cock-a-hoop, saying last night's result would enable them to "hold sway" on the district council with 20 of the 41 seats.

The council's Labour group leader, Dean Howson, said: "Both main parties saw Carlton as a major seat to win because the Tories could have taken control of the council when supported by the Independents."

Selby's Labour MP, John Grogan, said: "I'm delighted. It shows that with a strong candidate and carefully thought-out policies, Labour is capable of winning some of the most rural wards in the district."

The council's Consrevative group leader, Mark Crane, said today: "I'm very disappointed because I thought we could win.

"The Independent candidate split the Conservative vote and that's why we lost."

Coun Crane said he was concerned at the 35 per cent turn-out. He said: "We should all be concerned that only one in three of the electorate bothered to vote."

Updated: 14:33 Friday, November 16, 2001