The leader of the Conservative party at Three Rivers District Council blamed the weather for a disappointing by-election result.

In the Gade Valley by-election last night, the Liberal Democrats enjoyed a landslide victory securing 60.9 per cent of the vote - the Conservatives, who previously held the seat, received only 19.1 per cent. 

Turnout for the by-election was poor, with only 20.75 per cent of the electorate turning up. Councillor Alex Michaels won the election with 626 votes out of 1,028.

Ralph Sangster, leader of the Conservatives, argued that snow deterred voters and ultimately cost them the seat.

He said: "Clearly it was a disappointing result for us, but given the weather conditions, the turnout was as good as it could be.

"I was there around tea time, when the snow started to fall, and saw around six people turn up.

"Evidently, there are lots of Conservative voters in the area. MP David Gauke has a clear lead over the other candidates, but the supporters don't appear to come out for district elections."

When asked why he believed Lib Dem supporters voted and Conservative supporters did not, he blamed the snow.

"Of course we need to think of ways we can engage with the Conservative majority in the area and motivate them to come out.

"But when I saw the snow at tea time, I knew there would be a lower turnout. The lower the turnout, the better chance the Lib Dems stood. 

"The Lib Dems clearly have a stronger hold in Abbots Langley, and obviously their voters came out."

READ MORE: Lib Dems take control over Three Rivers after by-election

Labour secured 11.6 per cent, UKIP received 6.7 per cent and the Green Party got 1.8 per cent.

Winning candidate cllr Michaels said: "I am absolutely delighted to have won the Gade Valley ward for the Liberal Democrats.

"I look forward to meeting more local residents over the coming weeks and months, and to build on the work I have been doing in the area as an Abbots Langley parish councillor since May 2015.

"It was a hard, fought by-election and an important juncture, winning control of the Council for the Lib Dems and ensuring that we can bring the values which we believe in, and that voters clearly want, to Three Rivers."

And Conservative councillor David Sansom paid respect to former Gade Valley councillor Leslie Proctor, who died in November last year.

He said: "The result is a disappointment but just shows how much Leslie Proctor will be missed.

"He was not on the council for long but he was a real gentleman who will be missed in the Council and in his ward.

"His election in 2015, when he got 1420 votes, nearly 200 more than anybody else, shows just how well liked and respected he was."