Labour lost all their county council seats in the Dover division.

Mike Eddy and Terry Birkett were beaten at Deal by Conservatives Julie Rook and Kit Smith. Dr Eddy was the Labour Group leader on the county council but suffered the indignity of coming bottom of the poll.

He was defiant, however. "The fight back starts now," he said after the result had been announced. "It is very disappointing personally, and also for all those who have served so well."

Labour's Bill Newman and Gordon Cowan lost their seats in Dover Town, beaten by Conservatives Nigel Collor and Roger Frayne, and Labour's Eileen Rowbotham was ousted at Dover North where Conservative Steve Manion was elected.

Cllr Leyland Ridings (Cons) retained his Sandwich seat and Cllr Bryan Cope (Cons) was re-elected at Dover West.

Full results:

Deal. Julie Rook (Cons) 3,914; Kit Smith (Cons) 3,660; Antony Hook (Lib Dem) 2,592; John Trickey (Lib Dem) 2,521; Terry Birkett (Lab) 2,420; Mike Eddy (Lab) 2,342.

Dover North: Steve Manion (Cons) 2,380; Eileen Rowbotham (Lab) 1,300; Reg Hansell (Ind) 1,053; Sheila Smith (Lib Dem) 764.

Dover West: Bryan Cope (Cons) 2,463; John Buckley (UK Ind) 1,352; Peter Lodge (Lib Dem) 1,008; Pam Brivio (Lab) 645.

Dover Town: Nigel Collor (Cons) 2,825; Roger Frayne (Cons) 2,590; Bill Newman (Lab) 1,894; Gordon Cowan (Lab) 1,781; John Mackie (Lib Dem) 1,732; Dean Stiles (Lib Dem) 1,691.

Sandwich: Leyland Ridings (Cons) 3,038; Bryan Curtis (Lib Dem) 1,542; Iain Fairweather (Lab) 728.