CONSERVATIVES have taken overall control of Dover District Council with their biggest majority for more than 20 years.

They made their biggest gain in Middle Deal where all three Labour councillors lost their seats to the Conservatives, including Labour leader Peter Wells.

The council is now made up of 28 Conservatives, 15 Labour and 2 Liberal Democrats.

Council leader Cllr Paul Watkins said the result reached their "highest expectations".

"We have a majority of 11, the highest majority we have had since 1983.

"On a personal note, I was sorry to see Peter Wells lose his seat. He has worked with us behind the scenes in a very responsible manner for the benefit of the residents of the district."

It was a successful night for husband and wife team Julie and Chris Rook, who helped secure the Conservative victory in North Deal.

Mayor of Deal Jim Cronk lost his district council seat, as did former Mayor Marlene Burnham.

Former Dover Mayor Ken Tranter, who stood as an independent, was also ousted.

It was a long night for the council staff, the candidates and their supporters. Dover was one of the pilot areas for the new electronic scanning system which was designed to speed up the count.

But the results came through slowly, and it was nearly five hours before the last ward result was announced.