Reform UK has won a council by-election in the latest boost for Nigel Farage's party. The insurgent party gained Sleaford Westholme on North Kesteven District Council in Lincolnshire, which was previously held by an independent.

Reform secured 45% of the vote in the ballot, with the Lincolnshire Independents second with 15%, and the Tories third with 15%. Elsewhere in council by-elections on Thursday, the Greens took Aigburth in Liverpool from the Liberal Democrats. Zack Polanski's party won 45% of the vote, with the Lib Dems on 36% and Labour on 10%.

Meanwhile, the Lib Dems held two seats and gained two more in other council by-elections.

It comes ahead of May's local elections, where Reform and the Greens are hoping to make major gains.

Mr Farage, whose party is leading national opinion polls, has vowed to begin transforming Britain by winning the forthcoming ballots.

Speaking at a local election rally in Swindon on Thursday night, the Reform UK leader said Britain was a great country but had been broken by successive Conservative and Labour governments.

"We have been a very great country, we still are a very great people, but we've lost the sense of belief in ourselves," he told the audience of party members and supporters.

"We've lost the sense of direction as a country in terms of where we need to go.

"We have been badly led by weak leaders who don't believe in Britain, who don't believe in the British people, who are gutless and filled with cowardice."

Polling expert Lord Hayward said earlier this week that the local elections will be "truly national".

There is intense speculation that embattled Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer could be forced out of No 10 as Labour is expected to face a bloodbath.