The former treasurer of the Board of Deputies, Laurence Brass, has taken a seat for the Liberal Democrats from the Conservatives on Hertfordshire County Council.

Mr Brass, who was a councillor in Hertsmere 38 years ago, won a thumping majority of 770 in Bushey North ward.

His work as a judge had for many years prevented him getting involved as a judge.

But after retiring two years ago, he decided “to forfeit my retirement in order to try and win a seat on the county council”

There were “so many crucial issues in Bushey that I couldn’t back in my armchair”, he said.

He has been active in the opposition to the proposed rebuilding of Watford Football Club’s stadium on the site of Bushey Hall Golf Club.

He said he was honoured to be the first Lib Dem to capture a seat on the council in 16 years.

“There are some very significant local issues in Bushey and I know that the large Jewish community who supported me in this election will expect me to represent their views which I will certainly attempt to do.”

Meanwhile, by-elections in Hackney have returned the Conservative opposition in the Labour-dominated council to five after Hershy Lisser won the seat in Stamford Hill West ward vacated by Aron Klein.

The Conservative councillors are all Charedi.

But one of the Strictly Orthodox community’s emerging activists, Ari Feferkorn,  founder of hospital meals charity, Bedside Kosher, failed to pull off a Hartlepool in Woodberry Down ward and take the seat off Labour for the Conservatives.