THE anti-European UK Independence Party gained a foothold in Yorkshire and Humberside last night.

In the region, the party won 14.5% of the vote in the European Union elections, running in fourth, just behind the Liberal Democrats.

Nationally, the UKIP quadrupled its number of seats to 12, finishing third, ahead of the Lib-Dems.

Labour celebrated in Yorkshire as the results were announced at Leeds United's Elland Road ground.

Labour finished overall winners with 26.3%, compared to the Tories' 24.5%.

One UKIP winner York- based economist Godfrey Bloom, 54, said: "This is the genuine voice of the people.

"We have scored a consistent 14 to 20% right across the region, not just in the areas people thought we would.

"It's time the mainstream parties started to get the message," he added.

"We are on course for a European superstate and nearly 250,000 voted against it in this election."

The other elected Yorkshire and Humberside candidates are Timothy Kirkhope and Edward McMillan Scot, for the Conservatives, Labour's Linda McAvan and Richard Corbett and Diana Wallis for the Lib-Dems.

Labour's David Bowe, of Leeds, lost his seat.

He said: "I am obviously disappointed from a personal point of view that I will not be able to continue representing the interests of the region in dealing with the increasingly important role which Europe will play.

"I remain totally committed to the vital role of making the positive case for Europe and exposing the antics and myths perpetrated by increasingly hysterical anti-Europeans."

Former television presenter and ex-Labour MP, Robert Kilroy-Silk, won his seat for the UKIP in the East Midlands.

In his victory speech he said his party was tackling the most important issue of our generation.

He added: "They want their country back from Brussels - and we are going to get it back for them.

"Our aim and ambition is to turn the UK Independence Party into a mass movement."

The turnout in the region more than doubled from the last election in 1999, rising from 19.75% to 43.05%.