MARK Burns-Williamson was celebrating last night as he won a second term as West Yorkshire's police and crime commissioner.

It was only the second election of a police and crime commissioner - the figure who oversees our police - since the role was created by the coalition government three-and-a-half years ago.

Turnout at the polls was more than double that seen last time, but there had to be a count of people's second choice votes when none of the five candidates achieved 50 per cent or more.

Mr Burns-Williamson, who was defending his 42,000-vote majority for the Labour Party, was eventually declared commissioner after facing competition from four other candidates: the Conservatives' Allan Doherty, Stewart Golton of the Liberal Democrats, UKIP's Peter Corkindale and Therese Hirst of the English Democrats.

In the first round Mr Burns-Williamson had narrowly missed gaining half of the votes, getting 49.67 per cent compared to Mr Doherty with 22.78 per cent and Mr Corkindale with 14.27 per cent.

But Mr Burns-Williamson secured victory in the second choice count, gaining 35,543 more votes.

In his acceptance speech, he said: "There is still a great deal more to do with our police and valued partners, I would like to thank in advance colleagues in the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner, West Yorkshire Police, and all our partners for their continued commitment to making a real difference together."

The count was held at venues across West Yorkshire, with the results announced from Wakefield at 8.40pm, where Wakefield Council's chief executive, Joanne Roney, had been overseeing the election.

In the Bradford district, votes were counted in Odsal's Richard Dunn sports centre and Keighley Leisure Centre yesterday afternoon and evening, before these results were collated with those from Calderdale, Kirklees, Wakefield and Leeds.

The overall turnout was 34.77 per cent, an improvement on the first election in November 2012, when only 13 per cent of the electorate took part.

At the time, the low turnout was attributed to the fact that the first police and crime commissioner was elected in a standalone ballot. This year, it has been timed to coincide with the local elections.

Police and crime commissioners were created as a directly-elected replacement to the old model of police authorities.

While many people on the doorstep may struggle to say exactly what commissioners do, their role is wide-ranging and influential.

They oversee the police budget and are tasked with delivering an effective and efficient police service - a role which is proving ever more important as public sector budgets shrink.

They work to cut crime, set crime-fighting priorities and act as the voice of the people to ensure forces are answerable to the communities they serve.

They are also expected to appoint Chief Constables, hold them to account for running the force, and if necessary suspend or dismiss them.