After a count lasting nearly five hours, four established members of Onchan Commissioners found themselves rejected by the electorate.

Membership of the district board had been reduced from ten to seven, so some casualties were expected and those who missed out were outgoing chairman Tim Norton (707 votes), Gordon Astill (692), Ellis Killey (585), and Wendy Megson (525).

Topping the poll was Derek Crellin (1,134 votes), following by June Kelly (1,131) both of whom regained their seats. New members Steve Babb (Liberal Vannin: 1,120) and Ernest Thorn (1,047) were third and fourth respectively, and the three remaining elected candidates were stalwarts Brian Stowell (960), Terry Black (848) and Keith Watterson (813). Robin Christopher Turton received 712 votes.

The turnout was 34.8 per cent and the result was the last of the eight results to be declared.
Mr Norton saw himself as a 'scapegoat' for the recent nine per cent rate rise.

(Picture: The offices of Onchan Commissioners).