Conservative candidate Chris Nelson has been elected as Gloucestershire’s new police and crime commissioner. 

Mr Nelson received a total of 91,907 votes ahead of Liberal Democrat Chris Coleman who polled 59,838. 

Mr Nelson will now take on the role of holding the police to account and make sure they deliver an effective and efficient service in the county. 

None of the five candidates achieved more than 50 per cent of the first preference votes. 

This triggered a runoff between Conservative candidate Chris Nelson and Liberal Democrat Chris Coleman which included voters’ second preferences. 

Mr Nelson and Mr Coleman received 79,086 and 37,024 of first preference votes. 

Outgoing PCC Martin Surl was the third most voted candidate in the first round on 34,286 ahead of Labour’s Simon O’Rourke on 31,347 and Independent Adrian Stratton on 13,131. 

Turnout for the county this year has improved substantially since 2016. 

The total turnout was 40.9 per cent this year up from 29.4 per cent last time around. 

In PCC elections, voters can choose their first and second preference of candidates. 

However, the second preference votes are only used if no candidate receives more than 50 per cent of first preference votes.  

The top two candidates then receive the second preferences from their eliminated opponents.