Labour have gained the Newtown by-election from the Conservatives.

Votes were cast yesterday in the Dartford ward with a total of 1,180 voting.

Labour received 536 votes; Conservatives 376; UKIP 268.

The new Labour councillor is David Baker of Watling Street.

The by-election came about following the resignation of Conservative Gary Reynolds, who cited personal reasons for his departure.

Rosanna Currans, of Brent Lane, stood for the Conservatives; and Ivan Burch, of Devon Road, South Darenth, for UKIP.

Dartford’s ruling Tory group has a Conservative majority, with 30 seats to Labour’s 10, and Swanscombe and Greenhithe Residents Association’s four.

At the most recent by-election in the borough last September, the Conservatives comfortably held the Castle Ward seat.

The other councillors in Newtown ward are deputy mayor Avtar Sandhu (Con) and Cllr Michael Street (Con).