A SECOND count is underway to determine who is the first ever Police and Crime Commissioner for West Mercia.

Dr Simon Murphy (Labour) has been eliminated after netting only 25.7% of the vote.

Independent Bill Longmore was ahead with 37.8% of the vote, with Conservative candidate Adrian Blackshaw was a close second with 36.5%.

Under the Supplementary Vote system, Mr Murphy’s voters' second choices will now be taken into account.

Official turnout for the West Mercia region was 14.6 per cent - 134,850 voters. It is not yet known how many ballots were spoilt.

Across the border in Wales, Christopher Salmon has been voted in as Police and Crime Commissioner for Dyfed-Powys covering Hay-on-Wye, Presteigne and Knighton.