A group known as the Yarm Independents had a clean sweep overnight in a town council election.

The group had fielded 11 candidates in the Yarm Town Council election, with the hope of winning all 11 available seats and forming a united administration. While this was their stated aim, the faces of some of the newly-elected councillors were etched with shock and surprise when the results were confirmed in the early hours of Friday morning.

All 11 volunteer slots on the council were up for grabs, outside of the usual election cycle, following the resignation of every single town councillor during the month of June. Prior to the election, to keep the local body quorate and therefore able to operate, the wider Stockton Council had appointed temporary councillors.

Other parties fielding ca

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