VOTERS in Drake ward have elected Plymouth's first Sikh councillor.
Chaz Singh ousted Conservative Andy Fox, who won the seat in 2007 with a tiny 15-vote majority.
The student-dominated ward saw a fierce contest between six candidates.
Mr Singh, a trainer at the black and ethnic minority support group Fata He, said: "This is a victory for the Labour Party and also for diversity.
"I am very proud and humbled to become Plymouth's first Sikh councillor."
He said it was a "huge achievement and a huge milestone".
"If Plymouth is a diverse city, then let's see the representation.
Compton Conservative councillor David Stark, winning his 15th election, welcomed the victory for Mr Singh, saying: "We live in an age where tolerance is in short supply."
After the votes were counted, Mr Singh said: "Drake voters probably asked themselves what had been accomplished over the past four years."
He said his victory had been achieved through hard work, determination and keeping up appearances.
He did not meet overt racism on the doorstep, he said. But the most amusing incident of the campaign came when he was giving out leaflets. One householder thought he was advertising an Indian restaurant.
Mr Singh said his priorities would be "to listen to what the people of Drake are saying."