As well as the excitement of the Maidstone Borough elections, voters have also been to the polls in two contested parish council elections.

They were at Yalding Parish Council where 10 candidates were jostling for nine seats and at Staplehurst where 18 candidates were vying for 15 seats.

Staplehurst Parish was the last count to be declared on Friday afternoon at the Kent County Showground.

Elected for Yalding were: Geraldine Brown, Jason Bryant, June Chapman, Sue Gerrish, Ken Gough, David Law, Patricia Robbins, Andy Saunders and Dee Stead.

Elected for Staplehurst were: Colin Bowden, Joan Buller, Mick Chapman, Sue Forward, Sam Lain-Rose, Karen Langmaid, Helen Miller, John Perry, Zara Rawlinson, Paddy Riordan, Adele Sharp, Peter Spearink, Elaine Symes, Natasha Thomas and Caz Walsh.

The results:

Yalding Parish

Geraldine Brown 445

Jason Bryant 357

June Chapman 479

Sue Gerrish 478

Ken Gough 447

Ben Kirby 308 NOT ELECTED

David Law 338

Patricia Robbins 361

Andy Saunders 445

Dee Stead 385

Staplehurst Parish

Colin Bowden 608

Joan Buller 1118

Mick Chapman 482

Sue Forward 769

David George 460 NOT ELECTED

Paul Kelly 411 NOT ELECTED

Sam Lain-Rose 761

Karen Langmaid 501

Helen Miller 484

John Perry 842

Hannah Pontet 469 NOT ELECTED

Zara Rawlinson 782

Paddy Riordan 962

Adele Sharp 761

Peter Spearink 820

Elaine Symes 770

Natasha Thomas 707

Caz Walsh 744