Almost unnoticed amongst the drama of the local borough and the Euro elections on Thursday was an election of a different type - one with no votes being cast.

A vacancy had arisen on Tovil Parish Council following the retirement of its long-standing chairman the Rev Canon Chris Morgan Jones.

Ten electors called for an election, but as there was only one candidate, Lloyd Porter, he was declared elected without householders having to go to the polls.

Mr Porter, from Glebe Lane, Barming, had tried once before - unsuccessfully - to join the council but said he was pleased now to have the chance to contribute.

The 41-year-old is a “house-husband” looking after his young daughter. Originally from Snodland, he has lived at his present address for the past 17 years.

He worked for British Rail and Railtrack in the operations department for 13 years, then spent a period working for contracting firms in the rail and highway maintenance industries.

More recently, until April of last year, he ran his own landscape contracting business which brought him into contact with several parish councils, including Tovil.

He said he thought in the past Tovil Parish Council had been inefficiently run with poorly managed contracts and high administration costs. He said he was standing to improve efficiency and save taxpayer’s money.

Parish councillors are entitled to claim an attendance allowance, but Mr Porter pledged: “I will not be claiming this.”