RHIANON Passmore hailed her triumph in Islwyn as " a victory for common sense" after securing a majority of more than 5,000 votes for Labour.

The Caerphilly councillor, who represents the Risca East ward, will now take her place in the Senedd after seeing off five rivals.

Ms Passmore secured 10,050 votes, or 45 per cent of the total cast, putting her comfortably ahead of UKIP candidate Joe Smyth, who polled 4,944 votes to beat Plaid Cymru's Lyn Ackerman (4,349 votes) into third place.

UKIP was singled out for particular criticism by Ms Passmore when she spoke to the Argus after her victory was confirmed at the count venue, Newbridge leisure centre.

She said that claims that UKIP is for the working person is not true, but that in contrast, Labour's policies and pledges "are common sense, practical ways forward."

She highlighted better childcare, more apprenticeships, and more investment to support the elderly who have to go into care homes.

"It is about what people want, and that is better public services, and improving and protecting the NHS so we do not have the chronic situation there is in England, where nurses' bursaries have been withdrawn. We are also not having a junior doctors' strike," said Ms Passmore.

"I am very grateful to the people of Islwyn, who have given me their trust and I am very honoured to take that with me into the Assembly."

Mr Smyth said he was encouraged by his second place showing, and UKIP "is building continuously."

The party secured almost 20 per cent of the Islwyn vote in its first attempt there, taking votes from Labour and the Conservatives.

"Hopefully in future we might get one of our candidates past the post in first place," said Mr Smyth.

Lyn Ackerman, whose late father Alan stood for Plaid Cymru in 1971, thanked the people who had voted for her and her party, and supporters who had helped out in her campaign.

The Welsh Conservatives' candidate Paul Williams finished a distant fourth, and Welsh Liberal Democrat Matthew Kidner finished in fifth place, just three votes ahead of the Green Party's Katy Beddoe.

The turnout in Islwyn was 41.2 per cent, up on the 38.3 per cent recorded in 2011.

Rhianon Passmore (Labour) - 10,050 Joe Smyth (UKIP) - 4,944 Lyn Ackerman (Plaid Cymru) - 4,349 Paul Williams (Conservative) - 1,775 Matthew Kidner (Liberal Democrats) - 597 Katy Beddoe (Green Party) - 594 Turnout: 41.2 per cent