Conservative Communities Secretary Eric Pickles called the Croydon North MP "a man of great wit and humanity".

BBC: Cross-party tributes for former energy minister Wicks

The Croydon North and Middlesbrough polls were triggered by the deaths of MPs Malcolm Wicks and Sir Stuart Bell.

BBC: By-elections: Labour retains three seats

Winston McKenzie, UKIP candidate for Thursday's Croydon North by-election, told a local reporter placing children with same-sex couples was "unhealthy".

BBC: UKIP's Winston McKenzie criticised for gay adoption views