The Conservatives have swept to victory in by-elections held in Dartford.

Voters went to the polls in three different Wilmington seats – two which had arisen due to the passing of long-serving councillor Ann Allen back in October, and a third by Cllr Lucas Reynolds, who had stepped down for personal reasons.

Cllr Allen was first elected to Kent County Council (KCC) in 1997 as member for Wilmington and was also ward member on the borough council representing Maypole and Leyton Cross.

Both of those seats were contested in a by-election, held last Thursday, as well as Cllr Reynold's vacated seat on the borough council for Wilmington, Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley.

In that seat George Holt won for the Conservatives with 67.8% of the vote, comfortably ahead of his closest rival, Maria Louise Perry of the Labour Party on 18.5%.

The ex-Leigh Academy pupil has been a dedicated party member since he was 18 and at 21 also became chairman of Dartford Young Conservatives.

He is now the youngest councillor on Dartford council, aged 22.

After his victory he said: "We're incredibly grateful to all the voters who placed their trust in us, and it's an incredible honour to get elected to Dartford council.

"Rest assured we are getting to work right away and getting on with the job.

"It's great to see residents still know that the Local Conservatives are best placed to lead the council and its services; it's a testament to the good work done by the council in the past that we wish to continue and build upon."

It was a similar picture in Maypole and Leyton Cross where Kyle Stealey, also of the Conservatives, received 63.1% of the vote, with Julian Patrick Hood coming second for the Green Party with 14.3%.

He also pledged to protect the green belt, keep parks clean and stop fly-tipping.

Meanwhile, Av Sandhu, a serving Dartford borough councillor, was returned as the Tory candidate to represent Wilmington residents at County Hall on 58% of the vote. Labour's Darren Povey came second on 20%.

All three seats were previously held by Conservatives.

Turnout in the KCC by-election was 23%. In Maypole and Leyton Cross it was 24.5% and in Wilmington, Sutton-at-Hone and Hawley 24.1%.