THE SNP have held Renfrewshire South in the Scottish Parliamentary election.

The seat been retained by Tom Arthur with an increased majority of 3,260.

He secured 17,532 votes, with nearest challenger Paul O’Kane, of Labour, getting 10,426.

The Conservatives, represented by Derek Stillie, were in third place with 5,149 votes, followed by Liberal Democrat candidate Christine Cosh on 826, and Andy Doig, of Scotia Future, on 765.

Renfrewshire South straddles both East Renfrewshire and Renfrewshire, covering Barrhead, Johnstone, Lochwinnoch, Howwood and Kilbarchan, as well as parts of Neilston, Linwood and Elderslie.

Tom Arthur has said he is "absolutely delighted" to have been re-elected as MSP for Renfrewshire South.

He told Barrhead News: “It's been an honour and a privilege to have served for the past five years as MSP and I'm humbled to have been re-elected and it being such an emphatic victory as well.

"My priorities for the next five years will remain serving the people of Renfrewshire South, working with local groups and businesses in our community, as well as supporting the individuals who come to me for assistance.

"It is a constituency where I live and was brought up and my first priority will remain working with the people of Renfrewshire South to make it a better place to live, to work, raise a family and start a business.

“The SNP is enjoying an emphatic victory across Scotland today, and as part of that team in Holyrood, I’ll be making hard and supporting the First Minister in leading us out of the pandemic by implementing that transformational policy programme, such as setting up a national care service, building 100,000 affordable homes over the next decade and bringing ScotRail back into public ownership.

“I am very much looking forward to getting back to the day job of serving my constituents.”