CONSERVATIVE candidate John Anderson has retained his party's seat on Canterbury City Council after victory in the North Nailbourne Ward by-election.

Almost 53 per cent of the ward, which includes Bridge, Bishopsbourne, Bekesbourne and Patrixbourne, visited the polling stations. Altogether 544 voted for Mr Anderson.

While the margin of victory was a fairly comfortable - 66 more votes than second-placed Lib Dem candidate Janet Horsley - the two other candidates did not do well.

Labour's Paul Todd was placed last with 21 votes - five fewer than John Moore of the UK Independence Party.

The result means Mr Anderson fills the vacancy created by former Tory councillor Bill Oakey's resignation, which brought about the by-election.

Mr Oakey stepped down at the end of last year when a recruitment business, for which he was a personal guarantor, went bust and he was declared bankrupt.

The Conservatives hold on to 24 seats in the council which is controlled by a Lib Dem/Labour coalition with 26 seats.