Hampstead rugby captain Simon Marcus has been elected as the new Conservative councillor for Hampstead Town ward.

The 40-year-old, who went to St Anthony’s School, in Fitzjohn’s Avenue, Hampstead, stormed to victory last night with 1,040 votes.

Liberal Democrat candidate Dr Jeffrey Fine came in second place with 695 votes followed by Labour’s Maddy Raman and the Green Party’s Sophie Dix.

Despite the celebrations only 29.5 per cent of people - 2,462 of 8,325 - registered to vote in Hampstead Town turned out to vote.

Mr Marcus, of Platt’s Lane, Hampstead, was spurred into entering the political arena after a brief spell in Brussels lobbying the European Union on behalf of the British Chamber of Commerce.

He returned to Hampstead and started the Boxing Academy in Tottenham, providing an alternative to mainstream school for excluded teenagers, combing learning with discipline and culture of boxing.

He also contested the Barking seat in the 2010 General Election against BNP leader Nick Griffin, in which he came second.

The by-election was triggered when Conservative councillor Kirsty Roberts stepped down last month ahead of her move to the United States.

Mr Marcus will join Cllr Chris Knight (Conservative) and Cllr Linda Chung (Liberal Democrat) representing Hampstead Town ward on Camden Council.

Hampstead Town by-election results:

Simon Marcus (Conservative): 1,040

Dr Jeffrey Fine (Liberal Democrat): 695

Maddy Raman (Labour): 512

Sophie Dix (Green party): 207

Rejected votes: 9

Turnout: 29.5 per cent