Cumbria's newly elected PFCC thanks supporters

The move followed yesterday's PFCC election and the count began at Whitehaven Sports Centre last night at 10pm, after the polling stations closed, with the results announced around 4am.

There were three candidates hoping to be the first past the post and returning officer Andrew Seekings said the turnout was 82,412, which represented 21.17 percent, and the number of votes which were rejected was 740.

He also announced that David Allen (Labour) had received a total of 38,708 votes, Mike Johnson (Conservative) got a total of 24,863 votes and Adrian Waite (Lib Dems) received 18,100 votes and declared Mr Allen to be the newly elected PFCC for Cumbria.

Speaking after his victory Mr Allen said he felt ecstatic about the result and added: "I am a little bit tired at 4.30am but it was worth the wait - delighted."

When he made his acceptance speech, he thanked the other candidates in what he described as a "clean and fair fight" as well as all who had helped him on the campaign trail.

He added: “This is not a single person effort, it is a joint effort, and hundreds of people have been out knocking on doors convincing people to vote for me and I just wanted to thank you very much for that."

Mr Allen at the count (Image: Ian Duncan)

He said that the people of Cumbria had voted for a change after 12 years of a conservative PFCC and added: “You now have your first Labour police, fire and crime commissioner.

"It is a privilege and an honour to be that and I will do my best to deliver what I promised to you the people of Cumbria."

Mr Allen, himself an experienced former police officer, had previously said one of his priorities would be to ensure every ward would have a named police officer because people were concerned that they never saw an officer.

However, shortly after the results were announced Tory candidate Mr Johnson left the building and was unavailable for comment.

Mr Johnson, the former deputy PFCC, had previously said he was committed to building on the work done by Cumbria's 60 community beat officers.

Speaking after the results Mr Waite said he was very pleased and encouraged by the Lib Dem result which had produced a higher share of the vote than in previous PFCC elections and his campaign had gone very well.

Accepting victory at the count early on Friday morning (Image: Ian Duncan)

He added: "I have had a very good reception on the doorstep with everybody I have spoken to in every part of Cumbria and finally I would like to congratulate David on being elected police, fire and crime commissioner and I wish him all the best in his term of office."

Mr Waite, a Kirkby Stephen town councillor and prospective parliamentary candidate for Barrow, had called for more police visibility in the county's town centres as well as a crackdown on rural crime.

The count was expected to finish around 2am but it is understood that delays at the count in Kendal had held up proceedings because the results from all the Cumbrian counts had to be added together before the final announcement of the results.