The Green Party has won a County Council by-election after a former councillor was forced to give up the seat for being exposed as having connections with an openly-fascist group.

Andy Weatherhead stood down last November after losing the Conservative whip, following the publication of photographs of him wearing a black shirt at a rally organised by the New British Union (NBU).

His shirt displayed the lightning insignia formerly associated with Oswald Moseley's black shirt movement, the Union of Fascists, during the 1930s.

The photographs were released by the anti-fascist group Hope Not Hate.

Now, Green Party candidate Jenny Hawkins has won his old seat, for Hythe West, after topping the polls with with 1,568 votes at a by-election.

Mr Weatherhead had sought to to retain the seat and stood as an independent but came last, with 237 votes.

Ms Hawkins won nearly 44% of the vote and beat the Conservatives into second place with a 12.5% swing to the Green Party.

She said: “This win is a victory for honesty and integrity.

"Voters should be able to trust their councillors and they rightly rejected a man whose repugnant views they were shocked to discover and the Conservatives who happily endorsed him in 2021.”

Mr Weatherhead - who had been a KCC councillor for 18 months when he stood down - previously said his links to the far-right NBU "were made in the spirit of education and curiosity".

He added: "I was associated with that group for about eight months - I was not even a member of anything, there was no formal membership.

"It was a stupid mistake which I deeply regret, but I am not going to let eight months define my whole life.

"I think I did a pretty decent job as a councillor and I would like a chance to do it again."

Ms Hawkins will join four other Green councillors at County Hall.