TWO new Labour councillors have been elected in York, as the party won in by-elections in the city.

Jonny Crawshaw and Michael Pavlovic were elected in the City of York Council by-elections for Micklegate and Hull Road on Thursday.

The two new councillors replace outgoing Labour members - meaning the party maintains its position as the largest on City of York Council but is still in opposition facing a joint administration run by Conservative and Liberal Democrat councillors.

Jonny Crawshaw took the the Micklegate seat for Labour with 50 per cent of the vote and a comfortable 2000 vote majority over the Green party's Rosie Baker in second place.

With his declaration coming around 3.45am - before results in either of the Parliament seats were confirmed - the new Cllr Crawshaw thanked the Labour campaigners who had helped him to the win, and said it was becoming a "fantastic night" for Labour in York.

He added: "I would just like to thank the other candidates, and promise the people of Micklegate that I will do everything I possibly can for the next two years, and I'm looking forward to 2019 when we will hopefully return another two Labour party councillors."

The Mickelgate poll was triggered by the resignation of long-serving councillor Julie Gunnell, and although the ward had three Labour councillors before 2015 since then has been represented by one independent and one Green candidate, as well as one Labour.

Across the city in Hull Road, Michael Pavlovic won the seat vacated by previous Labour councillor David Levene, with 58 per cent of the vote, leading the Conservative's Matt Freckelton by almost 2,300 votes. He thanked the returning officer and counting staff, as well as his campaign team who had gone out "in the rain and shine" to help get him elected.

The new Cllr Pavlovic added: "I will do my utmost to represent you everyday, to the best of my ability. I know the hard work starts here."