Labour's Wes Streeting secured a crucial win in Ilford North, beating the Jewish Conservative incumbent Lee Scott by a majority of 589.

Former NUS president Mr Streeting won 21,463 votes, pipping Mr Scott in a closely fought campaign. The Tory candidate secured 20,874 votes.

The seat was 28th on Labour’s target list and provided a rare ray of hope on a night when the party had little to celebrate.

Following the result Mr Streeting tweeted:"Lee Scott served Ilford North for 10 years as our MP. He's a good man and I wish him, Estelle and family well for future.

"Blood, sweat, tears and we bloody did it. Thanks to the best campaign team in the world! It really hasn't sunk in. #IlfordNorth #LabourGAIN."

Mr Scott, who was a UJIA regional director in Leeds before entering politics, had enjoyed a majority of 5,404 at the last election, in the constituency where 6.5 per cent of voters are Jewish.

Jewish grandmother Doris Osen, an independent candidate and the oldest in the country, won just 87 votes losing her deposit.

Mrs Osen a member of Bevis Marks Synagogue, campaigned on a platform of reducing the national deficit and promoting the concerns of younger people.