The 55-year-old mobility advisor won the seat vacated followed the death of former council depute convener Alastair Bisset in December.

The contest developed into a two-horse race between Mr Sharp and Independent Hamish Simpson and went right down to the wire.

Following the 10th stage of counting using the Single Transferable Vote system of proportional representation just 39 votes separated the pair.

Mr Sharp polled a total of 884 votes to 59-year-old Mr Simpson's 845, with Labour a distant third and Independent James Allan relegating the Tories into fifth place.There were a total of 10 candidates.

Mr Sharp told 'The Scot': "I am very pleased, it was a tight contest. The work starts now and I am looking forward to it."

"I look forward to working with my SNP colleagues on the council, in Parliament and in the SNP Government to put forward a positive vision for Moray and to fight for the interests of Elgin South."

SNP business convenor and MP for Moray Angus Robertson declared: "This is a great victory for the SNP. There was a 6% swing from Labour to the SNP. This has been a catastrophe for Labour. Labour was supposed to be the challenger in this seat but instead their vote has collapsed and Labour have slipped from second to third.

"In John Sharp the people of Elgin South have elected an excellent and dedicated local campaigner who will represent their interests in the council."

The SNP claimed 32% of the vote with Independent candidate Mr Simpson 25%, Labour 17% and the Tories 10%.

The victory gives the Nats 10 members on the Moray Council which is run by an Independent-Conservative coalition of 11 Independent and 3 Conservative councillors. There are two Labour councillors.

See 'The Northern Scot' next Friday for an in-depth interview with the new member for Elgin City South, John Sharp.

c.saunderson@northern-scot.co.uk

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