Hackney's council leader has won the borough's election for a US-style executive mayor by a landslide.

Labour councillor Jules Pipe took 42% of the vote, 10,000 votes more than his nearest challenger, to become the east London borough's first elected mayor.

A second count was needed as, under the supplementary voting system, if no candidate obtains half the total share of the ballot, all but the top two are eliminated.

Voters' second preferences are then distributed to the remaining candidates.

Votes at first count

Jules Pipe,Lab: 13,813 Andrew Boff, Con: 4,502 Paul Foot, Soc All'nce: 4,187 Ian Sharer, Lib Dem: 4,185 Crispin Truman, Green: 3,002 Bruce Spenser, Hack First: 1,543 Terry Edwards, Ind: 1,253 Errol Carr, Ind: 441

The result was declared less than two hours after voting in the postal ballot closed at 1800 BST on Thursday.

The new mayor will have overall responsibility for running council services.

Labour had lost power in Hackney after splits in the party six years ago but regained overall control in a by-election last year.

Speaking after the declaration, Mr Pipe, 37, promised a fall in street crime, two new secondary schools and said he would campaign to bring the Tube to Hackney.

Previous scandals

But he said it would take years to change the borough's image.

He added: "I can understand people might be sceptical about anything to do with local politics in Hackney because of the legacy of the hung council years.

"So much damage was done to the borough at that time."

Last year an Audit Commission report called on the government to intervene to protect the running of essential services. The council is still being monitored.

Other mayoral elections were being held on Thursday at Bedford Mansfield, Nottinghamshire and Stoke-on-Trent.

May's mayoral elections included several surprises such as the victory of Stuart Drummond, town football club mascot, at Hartlepool.