Former Coronation Street actress Tracy Brabin wins Jo Cox's MP seat

Labour has held Batley and Spen in a by-election caused by the killing of MP Jo Cox just days before the EU referendum

Former Coronation Street actress Tracy Brabin, who was made Labour's candidate last month, won the West Yorkshire constituency with almost 86% of the vote.

Polls opened at 7am and closed at 10pm, with the result coming through shortly before 2am on Friday.

Brabin, 55, secured a majority of 16,537 after the Tories, Liberal Democrats, Ukip and the Greens decided not to put up candidates out of respect to Mrs Cox.

Jo Cox's death caused an outpouring of national mourning Credit: PA

Polls opened at 7am and closed at 10pm, with the result coming through shortly before 2am on Friday.

Turnout was just 25% - one of the lowest by-election turnouts since the Second World War.

Brabin described her victory as "bittersweet", but added that she hoped Mrs Cox would be proud that the community had spoken with one voice.

Brabin polled 17,506 votes, with the English Democrats finishing in second place with 969 votes.

Brabin was emotional when elected as Labour's candidate Credit: PA

In her acceptance speech, Brabin said her win was a victory for "hope and unity".

"This has been a difficult experience for all of us and tonight is a bittersweet occasion for me", she said.

"That this by-election has had to take place at all is a tragedy".

She continued: "I hope Jo will be proud tonight of our community. We have shown that we stand together with one voice choosing unity and hope"

Mrs Cox's widow, Brendan, congratulated Brabin.

Taking to Twitter, he also criticised some independent runners in the election, saying it was "great to see all the purveyors of hate lose their deposits".

Mrs Cox, 41, was shot dead outside Birstall library where she was scheduled to hold a constituency surgery on June 16.

A 52-year-old man was charged with her murder and will stand trial under the Terrorism Act.