Conservative David Craggs has been elected to the vacant River ward seat on Medway Council.

Mr Craggs, head teacher at Gad's Hill School in Higham, received 617 votes. His nearest rival, Labour's John Jones, polled 544 votes.

Labour had previously held the seat until the resignation of Bill Esterson who stepped down after being elected as MP for Sefton Central in Merseyside in the general election.

Just 23.5 per cent of the River ward electors voted in yesterday's by-elected.

Mr Craggs will join current ward councillor Craig Mackinlay (Con).

There were six candidates, votes cast were as follows:

David Craggs (Con) - 617

John Jones (Lab) - 544

Garry Harrison (Lib Dem) - 104

Steven Keevil (Green) - 45

Brian Ravenscroft (BNP) - 39

Ron Sands (Eng Dem) - 33