Former bank manager Sue Burrows has won a seat on Attleborough Town Council after beating her opponent Hannah Stephenson by 690 votes to 165.

Her victory, the latest of a string of by-elections in the town, could prove a turning point in the bitter feuds which have engulfed the authority. 

The council has earned nicknames such as "Battleborough" and "Aggroborough" for its bitter infighting between two rival factions. 

A meeting at Attleborough Town Council on Monday (Image: Facebook)

Power has long rested with the Taylors, a loose Conservative-aligned coalition headed by a mother and daughter duo, who have previously held a majority at most meetings.

Ranged against them are the Newbies, a more recently elected and Reform-dominated group who have fought to challenge the Taylors' grip on power.

The tensions have frequently resulted in dramatic clashes between the two groups.

In one of the more recent incidents, Samantha Taylor was accused of calling one of the Newbies a "vexatious little rat".

She admitted using the phrase but declined to say who it was aimed at.

One of the newbies claimed Mrs Taylor called him a "vexatious little rat" at a recent meeting (Image: Breckland Council)

But the tide appears to have been turning against the Taylors.

Mrs Burrows' husband Malcolm, also won a seat on the council in September last year. 

While both run under independent political flags, they have aligned themselves with the Newbies. 

Mark Boardman, a showbiz journalist turned Reform councillor who joined the council just before Christmas, also aligns with the Newbies.

The 15-seat council now has six members aligned with the group, five who side with the Taylors, and four who are not aligned with either.

Sue Burrows has joined her husband, Malcolm, on the council (Image: Sue Burrows)

Much of the friction has spilled onto social media, with a Facebook group known as Attleborough Nights gaining popularity as a place to discuss the chaos.

Following Mrs Burrows' victory, comments below a picture of the Newbies raising a glass in celebration included "Taylors your days are over, enjoy your final few months" and "Taylor Town is going down".

Mrs Burrows said: "There have been many changes over the last year with scrutiny and due diligence being placed to the fore, ensuring that the council is starting to work for the people who have voted for them."

© Eastern Daily Press