History has been made in Suffolk Coastal as Labour has won the seat for the first time, hours after its former MP was made a Dame.

At 4am, it was announced that Jenny Riddell-Carpenter, the Labour challenger to the historically Conservative-held seat, had been elected to represent Suffolk Coastal.

Ms Riddell-Carpenter achieved 15,672  votes. Dame Therese Coffey followed, with 14,602.

In third place came Matthew Jackson for the Reform party with 7,850. Julia Ewart for the Liberal Democrats came fourth with 6,947

In fifth place came Julian Cusack for the Greens with 4,380.

This is the first time in the constituency’s history that a candidate from another party will represent the area.

The seat was created in 1983 from the combining of the constituencies Sudbury and Woodbridge with Eye. The seat has been held by the Conservatives ever since, until Ms Ridwell-Carpenter’s historic victory in the early hours of Friday morning.

Counting forSuffolk Coastal began at Brackenbury Sports Centre in Felixstowe at just after 1.15am. Counting for Suffolk Coastal began at Brackenbury Sports Centre in Felixstowe at just after 1.15am. (Image: Newsquest) Julia Ewart was the Liberal Democrat candidate for Suffolk Coastal. (Image: Newsquest)