The Conservatives have won the north ward by-election on Deal Town Council, taking the seat from Labour.

Carol Stickler, pictured, topped the poll with 529 votes, beating Labour’s Eleanor Inch, who received 337. Liberal Democrat Nathan Sewell polled 198.

The by-election, held on Thursday, was caused by the resignation of former Town Mayor Sue Delling, and means Labour has lost its overall majority on the town council.

Labour now has seven seats on the town council, the Conservatives have five and the Lib-Dems have three.

Voter turnout was 20 per cent and the swing from Labour to the Conservatives was four per cent.

See this week’s East Kent Mercury for full reaction to the result.