THE Conservatives have won overall control of Dartford Council.

They gained six seats from Labour after votes were counted.

Overall, Labour lost four seats while the Swanscombe and Greenhithe Residents' Association gained one.

The Conservatives now have 26 seats, Labour have 12 seats and the residents' association has six.

This gives the Conservatives an overall majority of eight seats. Previously there was no overall control of the council and the Tories worked in coalition with the residents' association.

Voter turnout stood at 36.6 per cent, up three per cent from the previous elections in 2003.

Conservatives won seats from Labour in the Newtown, Town and Westhill wards.

This means they now have every seat in all three wards.

New England Party councillor Michael Tibby was unseated by Labour in Littlebrook.

The residents' association took one seat from Tories in Greenhithe, meaning it now has all the seats there. It also still has all three seats in Swanscombe.

After the count, Tory council leader Councillor Jeremy Kite, said: "The result is a vindication for four years of delivery from the council, where we've delivered the services residents really want.

"Our success can be seen in the football stadium, judo centre and skate park and also in the new services we've brought in to clean up the town and keep it tidy, such as the DeepClean programme."

Speaking about his administration's plans, he said: "We want to steer young people away from anti-social behaviour in practical ways through sport and new facilities and carry on cracking down on the crimes which can destroy neighbourhoods."

Cllr Kite said his party would continue to work closely with the residents' association, saying they enjoyed a rewarding and exciting relationship.

  • In the Swanley Christchurch and Swanley Village ward for Sevenoaks District Council, three seats were seized by the Conservatives from Labour.

Labour retained its seats in Swanley White Oak and Swanley St Mary's.

Average voter turnout in the Swanley wards was 29.34 per cent.

  • For the full election results from Dartford click here