THE Conservatives came tantalisingly close to taking control of Maidstone Borough Council for the first time in 22 years in Thursday's elections.

Going into election night the Conservatives held 24 seats, the Liberal Democrats 20, Labour eight and three held by Independents. This year’s doorstep battle was said to have been one of the toughest and most closely fought for many years.

But four dramatic victories in Harrietsham and Lenham, Shepway North, [Maidstone] South and [Maidstone] East fell short of the five gains, needed by the Conservatives for an overall majority, leaving the town hall once again in a state of no overall control.

By 1am when the last ward result was being announced for Marden and Yalding the Conservatives held 27 seats (-1) with 19 for the Liberal Democrats (-2), six for Labour (-2) and the Independents with three (no change).

It leaves borough council rule in limbo. The future of the existing Liberal Democrat dominated coalition will be decided next week with Labour and Independent councillors meeting to discuss whether or not to give the pact their continued blessing.

As the early results came in Cllr Malcolm Robertson, the Liberal Democrat’s new group leader appeared resigned to defeat, saying he expected big changes. By the end he appeared more upbeat.

"It is early days yet. What is quite clear is that the Tories have not achieved what they aimed to achieve and are still one short of an overall majority," he said.

"The question for us now is what possibility is there of forming a coalition with the other parties other than the Conservatives."

Conservative group leader Cllr Eric Hotson, said he was satisfied with the night’s results buoyed by a raft of new younger candidates. He planned to prepare a cabinet ready to take over should coalition talks between the other groups fail.

He said: "Maidstone at long last is becoming truly Conservative. Over the last six years we have been the only party that has continued to gain seats. Here we were almost at a climax. We are now just one more push away."

Cllr Daniel Moriarty (Lab), re-elected to Park Wood but with a diminished majority, said voter anger at the Labour government has been a factor in a collapse of support for his party.

He said: "The government didn’t help us the last three or four weeks with the release of prisoners and Mr Prescott’s affair.

"They should start and get their act together so the footsoldiers at borough level can get on with their work properly."