The daughter of a former regional daily journalist has failed in her bid to win the council seat which fell vacant on his death.

As previously reported on HTFP, Eleanor Clark had hoped to serve on Stockton Council after entering a by-election triggered by the passing of her dad Mike Clark, who used to work as a reporter on the Teesside Gazette.

Mike served as a Labour councillor in the authority’s Grangefield ward alongside wife Carol prior to his death in June aged 61.

However, a 10pc swing to the Conservatives in the poll saw their candidate Stephen Richardson take the seat.

Eleanor, left, and her late father Mike Clark

Mr Richardson polled 807 votes to Eleanor’s 689, with the other parties being UKIP, who received 58 votes and the Liberal Democrats, who received 44.

Mike, whose career also saw him serve as head of communications for Middlesbrough Council, had represented Grangefield since 2011.

Eleanor previously said: “My dad was a very good father. Me and my brothers were lucky to have a hands-on father who took us places on weekends and encouraged us.

“The things he did by carrying on his work as a councillor when he was so ill were so inspirational.”