THE Conservatives gained overall control of Dartford Borough Council in the local elections.

The group pushed up its majority from 21 seats in 2003 to 26 on Thursday while Labour’s share fell from 17 four years ago to 12 now.

The only other party to gain any seats were Swanscombe and Greenhithe Residents Association who pushed up their share from five to six.

Other parties such as the English Democrats and the UK Independence Party gained nothing.

The far right British National Party fielded one candidate who also didn’t win but came third out of six contestants in the Joyce Green ward, gaining 328 votes.

Exhausted candidates had to wait until 5.30am for the final results during the count at the Orchard Theatre in Dartford.

But an elated Tory Leader Jeremy Kite said: "This shows we are a different kind of council and the voters have acknowledged our achievements such as bringing in the new Dartford FC football stadium and the Dartford Judo Centre."

The Tories had won despite the adminstration’s universally unpopular plans to build a road through Central Park, which was thrown out by the Secretary of State last summer.

The council had since pledged not to revive that scheme and Cllr Kite said: "I think the voters have now drawn a line under this."

Labour leader Geoff Proud believed his party had failed to win because of a combination of reasons such as the vote against Tony Blair and the English Democrats splitting local votes.