Victory was comfortable for Jean Law at Thursday’s KCC by-election for Herne Bay and the Conservative councillor now replaces her late husband in the seat.

She received almost 50 per cent of the vote and her count of 2,474 eclipsed the 1,524 for her closest challenger, Lib Dem councillor Margaret Flaherty. The turnout was just 23 per cent.

The death of John Law in August prompted the by-election. But his widow said that while she had a tough act to follow, now was not the time for nostalgia.

“John left a huge legacy,” said Cllr Law after the results were announced. “But as much as I love him, this was not his election.

“This was the Herne Bay people’s election. There are lots of things I want to do but it is in their name I want to do it - not John’s.”

A defeated Cllr Flaherty was the first to congratulate her victorious rival. “She worked really hard,” said the Lib Dem city councillor.

Labour Party candidate Michael Britton came third with 537 votes. Dennis Whiting for the British National Party secured almost eight per cent of the count with 399 votes while in last place was Brian Macdowall for the UK Independence Party with 252 votes.