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 yesterday 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 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.

Speaking to the News & Star following the result, Mr McCall said he would continue his commitment to increasing police officer numbers.

“We need to deliver on phase three of the uplift programme so that’s more officers to come.

“As part of that, having now increased numbers quite significantly, we need to make sure that we are using them intelligently.

“Together with the chief constable, we’ll be looking at the capabilities we require and where these officers need to be to have the best effect.

“We’re also looking at improving our IT and analysis systems.

“It’s going to be a busy year for policing, on top of the year they’ve already had. We anticipate lots of visitors to the Lake District. We’re already seeing that. There’s no let up for our police in that.”

Turnout in Cumbria for the PCC 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 yesterday.

The police and crime commissioners 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.