mjefferies@thekmgroup.co.uk

LABOUR candidate Sandra Hart swept to victory in the Dane Valley by-election, as Thanet's ruling Conservative party slumped to third place overall.

Turn-out for last Thursday's poll was just 17 per cent, with only 930 of a possible 5,300 residents casting their votes.

Cllr Hart, the wife of Thanet Labour Group leader Cllr Clive Hart, took 34 per cent of the poll, with a narrow winning margin of around 60 votes over Bill Furness, the Liberal Democrat candidate.

Her victory ends a Tory stranglehold on the three Dane Valley seats - one of which was held by Stephen Broadhurst until he resigned earlier this year amid criticism for spending much of his time in Panama.

The Tory candidate in last week's poll, Ingrid Spencer, won just 222 votes - more than 400 less than Mr Broadhurst received in May 2007.

Speaking after her victory, Cllr Hart said: "I'd like to thank everyone who made the effort to vote, especially those who turned out on such a cold, wet and windy December day. The residents of Dane Valley ward deserve strong representation and I'll do my very best for them."

Her husband added: "Sandy was a first class candidate and I know she'll make an excellent councillor."

Tory pair Cllrs Michael Jarvis and Ted Watt-Ruffell continue to represent Dane Valley residents, alongside the newly-elected Cllr Hart.