Ulster Unionists have dramatically and unexpectedly won the Banbridge council byelection in Co Down, beating the fancied DUP candidate into second place.
Carol Black took the seat thanks to significant transfers from MEP Jim Allister's new unionist party, Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV), which polled strongly in its maiden election, coming third with nearly 20 per cent of first preferences.
The anti-powersharing TUV was formed last December by Mr Allister after he quit the DUP in protest at the Rev Ian Paisley's decision to join Sinn Féin in government at Stormont.
Democratic Unionist candidate Paul Stewart topped the poll with 1,069 first preferences. At 28 per cent this was a sizeable drop from the near 50 per cent the party scored at the last council elections in 2005.
However, the transfers from TUV candidate Keith Harbinson, splitting almost equally between the Ulster Unionists and the DUP, were enough to see the UUP score a win for Sir Reg Empey's party.