Conservative councillor Paul Cutler has been elected at the Castle ward by-election.

Held on Thursday, Mr Cutler won the seat with 191 votes – 43% of the total.

The turnout for the election was just 23% with 444 people voting out of a total of 1,942.

Second was Labour party’s Hayley Louisa Reece received 111 votes (25%) while Stephen Wilders (UKIP) received 60 votes (13%).

Vic Openshaw from the Swanscombe and Greenhithe Residents Association received 50 votes (11%) and Frances Elizabeth Moore from the English Democrats - "Putting England First" received 32 votes (7%).

The by-election was triggered by the death in June of Cllr Sheila East.