The number of Canterbury students registering to vote has surged ahead of a by-election today for a county council seat held by the Conservatives for two decades.

Registers show a rise of almost 800 voters with a University of Kent address in just three weeks.

Given recent voting trends, the figures suggest a likely boost for Labour and its candidate Ben Hickman, who lectures in modern poetry at the university.

But independent candidate Joe Egerton says it cannot be assumed the extra votes will benefit Labour.

While the ex-Conservative believes many young voters will support Mr Hickman, he says some could go Green, while the Liberal Democrats hope their firm anti-Brexit stance will help them regain ground lost after the party controversially backed a tuition fees hike in 2010.

Finally, with Ukip candidate Joe Simons a third-year history student at the university, Mr Egerton says "some might vote for him because they think he's a good chap", and that the result will be down to turnout.

"The Labour party could get 1,000 votes out of this," he said. "We have got a naturally Conservative ward, but I get the impression Labour are doing quite well.

"But there's a possibility, in a by-election particularly, that disillusioned Conservatives, floating voters and protest voters all coalesce around an independent. I will be disappointed if I don't get a decent number of votes.

"If there's a low turnout, I would have thought Labour would be in with a decent chance. But if it's a high turnout, the student voters will become a lower proportion.

"This has a deliciously 19th century flavour, because certainly up until the Third Reform Act, the main thing parties competed on was getting voters registered."

Although a surge in student registrations is usually expected before elections as they are no longer automatically registered by universities, the numbers come as a surprise to Mr Hickman, who is also chair of Canterbury's constituency Labour party and Momentum secretary.

"We've had a bit of a drive to register students, as we did at the general election," he said.

"Obviously in and of itself, that's a massively positive thing. Students are usually underrepresented in local government. But they're starting to realise that they do need to have their say.

"The thing that often gets forgotten about students is that they do actually live in the place where they vote. It's important that students realise that they are part of the community, and they can have some kind of say on the decisions that are made."

The election follows the death of Cllr John Simmonds MBE.

The Canterbury North division takes in villages around the city including Blean and Chartham, as well as Tyler Hill, Rough Common and the edge of Whitstable.

Votes will be counted at Westgate Hall tomorrow (Friday).

WHAT THE OTHER CANDIDATES SAY

Alex Lister (Lib Dem)

"I’m delighted to see so many first-year students engaging in the local democratic process.

"Even though many of them may move on after their degrees, the decisions we take today will affect the lives of students in the future. So it is right and proper that students have their say, and that councillors listen.

"We have to represent everyone, both students and permanent residents."

Henry Stanton (Green)

"The key to democracy is that people vote. The more registrations the better. It just enhances our local democracy.

"The student community, particularly in the Canterbury North area, are absolutely citizens of that area as much as anyone else. In terms of what the county council does, if you look at things like the provision of buses and roads, they're in charge of that, so of course it's key that students vote because they will be affected by things like that. It would be ludicrous to suggest that they can't have a voice."

Robert Thomas (Conservative)

"At this year's Freshers' Fair record numbers of students joined the Conservative Party because they support practical Conservative campaigns, like our call for a new hospital in Canterbury. Students have come to realise that Jeremy Corbyn's plan to 'deal with' student debt has no substance and can't be delivered.

"As someone who worked at the University of Kent for over six years I know what a great place it is to study, and the benefits the students bring to our district. Long may that continue! It's why Conservatives have worked to support a vibrant local economy. One that helps students make Canterbury their permanent home, either through finding work or starting their own businesses."

Joe Simons (Ukip)

"It is always good to see young people getting involved in politics, regardless of affiliation. Ukip's youth wing (Young Independence) has in fact just held its biggest conference ever, with well over 100 members in attendance - myself included.

"I think what we students must remember when voting is that the promise of free tuition is unrealistic - at least while there's an abundance of whimsical arts degree choices, arguably including my own choice of degree.

"Ukip's higher education policy is much more sensible and refined: scrapping tuition fees specifically for STEMM students, providing that they work in the UK for five years after graduating."