There has been an historic victory in Britain for the anti-European Union UK Independence Party.

It has won its first elected seat in parliament in a by-election.

Douglas Carswell won for UKIP in a ballot in Clacton. Previously this was his seat as a ruling Conservative MP. But he defected to UKIP in August, forcing a by-election by resigning from parliament.

“I resigned from parliament to face this election because I answer first, foremost and last to you,” Carswell told his supporters after the win.

The Conservatives have admitted the surprise victory is a “wake-up call” for the party.

UKIP also came very close to winning another by-election held yesterday in the seat of Heywood and Middleton, where the sitting Labour MP died last month.