Labour has held onto Rotherham in a parliamentary by-election which saw a surge towards the UK Independence Party and disastrous results for both coalition parties.

Conservatives finished fifth behind not only Ukip but also the British National Party and Respect while Tory candidate Simon Wilson only held onto his deposit by a whisker.

And Liberal Democrat Michael Beckett limped in eighth and lost his deposit, trailing behind the English Democrats and an Independent.

Labour's Sarah Champion won comfortably with 9,866 votes, a majority of 5,218 (24.46%) over Ukip.

The party's majority in a seat it has held since 1933 was marginally down on the 27.9% it recorded in the 2010 general election.