Peter McCall has been re-elected as Cumbria's Police and Crime Commissioner.

He won the race with 56,753 votes, beating Labour's Barbara Cannon, who received 27,687 votes and Liberal Democrat Loraine Birchall, who got 21,506 votes.

Mr McCall received 53.57 per cent of all first choice votes.

The county went to the polls on Thursday to decide who will hold the role for the next three years.

Mr McCall was announced as the winner today at Workington Leisure Centre.

In his victory speech, Mr McCall said: "I am very grateful to everyone who's taken part, whoever you voted for in this election. Policing is important for our county.

"I'd like to give my thanks to my opponents for a well fought fight.

"I'm delighted with this result. Being PCC is a team event and I take this result today as an endorsement of the work that the police have been doing over the last five years to keep our county safe."

He also thanked everyone involved with counting the votes.

"I appreciate how much harder it's been having to deal with this in Covid restricted ways," he added.

Turnout in Cumbria for the Police and Crime Commissioner elections was 27.62 per cent, with 107,824 votes cast. This is an increase on the 25.61 per cent turnout in 2016.

It was 27.19 per cent in Carlisle and only 18.43 per cent in Barrow.

Turnout in Allerdale was 27.7 per cent, Copeland 22.47 per cent, Eden 25.59 per cent and South Lakeland 38.08 per cent.

The votes were verified on Friday and ballot papers had been stored securely at Allerdale House until today.

PCCs are elected to make sure that local police meet the needs of the community.

They are responsible for engaging with the public, setting the policing priorities, and holding the Chief Constable to account.