VOTERS in West Oxfordshire and Cherwell have stayed true to their Tory roots and chosen Conservative Anthony Stansfeld as Police and Crime Commissioner.

In the latest results, in Cherwell Mr Stansfeld came top with 4,621 votes. Labour's Tim Starkey came second with 3,428, independent Geoff Howard got 1,730, followed by UKIP's Barry Cooper with 1,192, Liberal Democrat John Howson with 949, and independent Patience Awe with 935.

In West Oxfordshire the vote ran Mr Stansfeld 4,399, Mr Starkey 1,998, Mr Howard 1,451, Mr Cooper 793, and Ms Awe 792, and Mr Howson last with 789.

It also means the county has broadly followed its recent general and district council election results, with Oxford an island of red surrounded by a sea of Tory blue.

Mr Stansfeld is well ahead of Mr Starkey in terms of districts across the Thames Valley won. However to secure an outright result, he needs to have won 50 per cent of the first preference votes cast.

That will be known shortly. If not, second preference votes will be counted and the winner not declared until after 4pm.