The Liberal Democrats have won the Brent East by-election.

The party's candidate Sarah Teather polled 8,158 votes, giving her a majority of 1,118 over the second placed candidate, Labour MEP Robert Evans.

Evans received 7,040 votes, while Conservative candidate Uma Fernandes trailed in third place with 3,368 votes.

Teather said she was "absolutely elated" at her victory.

And party leader Charles Kennedy added: "We have shown that there is no such thing as a no-go area for the Liberal Democrats."

Labour chairman Ian McCartney said he was "disappointed" that the party's run of by-election victories had come to an end.

"The backdrop of the controversy surrounding the Iraqi conflict, in its many forms, made this the most difficult by-election Labour has fought in the last 20 years," he said.

Conservative chairman Theresa May said the party remained "on course" despite its third place setback.

"We will look at the campaign and learn the lessons from the campaign but we are a party that is on course for the general election," she said.