WIGAN's newest councillor, Mark Aldred, is on top of the world after narrowly winning last week's by-election.

Cllr Aldred's victory means Labour will continue to hold the seat vacated by Graham Lingings, after beating Liberal Democrat Neil Hogg and Conservative Nigel Dugmore.

This is the third time Mark, 33, has stood in a by-election, having been narrowly pipped at the post twice before.

At a previous by-election in Atherton, he lost by 34 votes and in an earlier Hindsford by-election, was just 56 votes short of being elected.

But this time, after attracting more than 1,000 votes, he said: "I am on top of the world. I'm still pinching myself. Obviously, I'm going to work hard for the local people, especially for what matters to them."

Mark was educated in Atherton at St Philip's Primary and Hesketh Fletcher High School. Currently, he runs a business in Atherton and lives on Chanters Avenue with wife, Karen, and their two children, Martin, eight, and Chloe, two.

Cllr Aldred has already identified an issue he wants to deal with. He wants to see Victoria Mill, in Bolton Old Road refurbished, a separate entrance built on the site and more jobs created in the area.

He added: "I realise what the local people want, and that is the difference."

Cllr Aldred is a governor at St Philip's School and helps run a Beaver Cub group.

He is a member of the Traders' Association and the community mapping team in Atherton. He also regularly attends Atherton and Hindsford Risk Management Group meetings.

Runner-up Liberal Democrat candidate Neil Hogg has vowed he will be back.

He said: "I would like to thank the 945 people who took the time to vote for me. At the end of a very hard campaign, I was disappointed not to win, yet immensely proud that so many people had belief in me as their choice for councillor.

"I would like to re-assure all those who voted for me that I will not give up my campaign for a better future for everyone in the Hindsford ward, and I will continue to be a voice to be heard in our local community -- elected or not."

And in third place, Conservative Nigel Dugmore -- who attracted just 75 votes -- said he planned to continue to pursue his political ambitions.

The man from Astley said: "Hindsford has never been a good seat for us but it was important that we had a candidate there to give people the option. The vote was about what we estimated."

If he had won, Mr Dugmore said he and Conservative Cllr Michael Winstanley (Orrell) could have formed a "proper" opposition to the Labour-dominated council.

Despite having unsuccessfully stood in previous, elections Mr Dugmore said he is happy to put his name forward for seats in the future.