Local elections 2016: Labour candidate wins on recount after 'bundle of votes found under Conservative pile'

Duncan Enright initially thought he had lost the seat before the discovery was made

Vote counting is taking place across the UK (Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images)

A Labour councillor who thought he had lost his seat has been re-elected after a bundle of votes was found under a pile for his Conservative rival.

Duncan Enright, a candidate for a Witney constituency in Oxfordshire, has described his relief following the discovery. He tweeted throughout the experience and initially announced he had lost.

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He posted: "Lost by 70 votes or so. Thanks for the opportunity to serve. The fight goes on." He soon after followed up by announcing: "Miscount in Witney East, result now in, I win by 70! Thank you! Bunde of my votes under a Tory pile! Delighted! Thanks Witney!"

Mr Enright stood against David Cameron in last year's general election as the Labour party's candidate. He lost with 10,046 votes to the Prime Minister's 35,201 votes.

Vote counting is continuing to take place around the country following yesterday's elections for councils and devolved institutions. Counting for the Northern Irish election and London Mayoral race is due to begin shortly.

Ukip has seen a rise in support, gaining seats in Thurrock, Tamworth and Bolton and is expected to win its first seat in the Welsh Assembly. In Scotland, the SNP appears to be performing well, while Labour has sustained a number of losses and a bounceback in support for the Liberal Democrats has occurred.