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Jeannette Pellen, 76, in Doncaster who retired from her role as an M&S customer assistant in a Scunthorpe store at the end of April, said they had been unable to clock in and out of work as a result of the attack.

The party has also won control of Doncaster council from Labour, and taken control in Durham, where Labour was the largest party.

It held a trio of mayoralties in Doncaster, North Tyneside and the West of England, but saw its share of the vote significantly dented by Reform in all of them.

In the mayoral contests declared so far, they were second in Doncaster with 31% of the vote, they were second on North Tyneside with 29% of the vote and they were second in the West of England with 22% of the vote.

There is no doubt they have taken a hit, but perhaps it could have been worse – they did win in Doncaster, North Tyneside and the West of England.