The age-old battle between local and central government took an unexpected turn last week with the news that a distant relative of Guy Fawkes has been elected as a councillor in Hampshire.

Retired headteacher Philip Fawkes won Hampshire CC's South Waterside ward for UK Independence Party (UKIP) on 2 May. The newly-elected councillor shares a common ancestor with the famous gunpowder plotter in the shape of his great-great grandfather.