The Conservatives remain in control of Swale council following a dramatic day of results.

A number of shocks mean there has been a significant shift in the political make up of the borough.

Ukip made key gains by winning six more seats, but it was a bad day for Labour who lost nine.

The biggest shocks were the Sheerness ward losing long-time labour councillor Steve Worrall and the party's leader Adam Tolhurst not retaining his seat in Milton Regis.

Pat Sandle, who was standing in Sheppey East, also failed to win the voters over.

To see how the day's events unfolded see below...

1pm - Counting is underway at the Swale council borough elections.

A total of 47 seats are up for grabs with the Conservative Party, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Ukip, Green Party, Monster Raving Loony Party and independent candidates vying for power in 24 wards.

The first results are expected to be issued at around 3pm.

Speaking as he arrived for the count at Swallows leisure centre in Sittingbourne, the borough's Conservative party leader Andrew Bowles said he was feeling tired after getting home from the mid Kent count held at Mote Park, Maidstone, overnight.

When asked what he thought about the results he said: "Fantastic. Absolutely unbelievable. Totally over the moon."

So how's he feeling about the council elections?

"I think there will be some strange results," he said.

"I think all over the borough, there will be people that expected to win that don't and people that didn't expect to win that will."

When asked who he meant he said. "I'm not going to commit myself."

2.10pm - The first result has been declared.

Ghlin Whelan (Lab) has retained his seat in the Chalkwell ward.

The full results are: Ghlin Whelan (Lab) 518 votes, Sylvia Bennett (Con) 366 votes, Paul Gebbie (Ukip) 242 votes, Anthea Spurling (Lib Dem) 44 votes.

Turnout was 59.8%.

2.15pm - James Hunt Conservative candidate for the new ward The Meads said about last night's general election results: "Excellent really pleased both for Gordon and nationally.

"I'm confident but I don't want to get too confident until the actual count has happened, but seeing when the verification was done last night it looks quite positive."

2.20pm - Newly elected Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson is here to support his party's candidates in the elections.

Speaking about his win he said: "I was delighted with the result.

"I was particularly pleased that the final count was almost identical to 2010 and that my majority was only 100 less than in 2010."

I hope some of my Conservative colleagues will retain control of the council.

"I have been working very closely with the council on a number of initiatives including the regeneration of Sittingbourne and I fear if we lose control that might stall and that's a big concern I have."

2.26pm - The result for the newly created Meads ward is about to be announced.

2.35pm - James Hunt (Con) has won in the count for The Meads.

The full results are: James Hunt (Con) 722 votes, Mathew Palmer (Ukip) 354 votes, Karen Watson (Lab) 267 votes.

The turnout was 64.3%.

2.45pm - James Hunt said: "I'm really pleased and a bit emotional.

"It's what I was hoping for, a really good result, really pleased with the turn out and it was good to see queues out the door yesterday.

"People were waiting up to 10 minutes to vote."

When asked what the first thing was he was going to do he replied: "Go on Facebook and thank all the residents that voted for me."

His wife Gemma added: "He's worked really hard."

2.59pm - The result of the Abbey ward is about to be announced.

3.05pm - Around 300 people at the count have just held at two minute's silence to mark the 70th anniversary of VE Day.

3.10pm - Loony Party candidate Mad Mike Young has just arrived with a bunch of bananas in a briefcase.

3.15pm - Bryan Mulhern (Con) and Anita Walker (Con) have been elected in the Abbey ward in Faversham.

The full results are: Sue Akhurst (Ind) 448 votes, Tina Hagger (Green) 389 votes, Gulliver Immink (Ind) 305 votes, Andrea McKenna (Ukip) 365 votes, Gary Miller (Green) 331 votes, Bryan Mulhern (Con) 799 votes, Trevor Payne (Lab) 513 votes, Anita Walker (Con) 839 votes.

The turnout was 63%.

Tina Booth (Con), June Garrad and Ken Ingleton won seats on the Sheppey Central ward.

The full results were: Tina Booth (Con) 1,227 votes, June Garrad (Ukip) 1,203 votes, Alan Henley (Lab) 704 votes, Ken Ingleton 1,152 votes (Con), Elliott Jayes (Ind) 251 votes, David Jones (Ukip) 1,108 votes, Peter MacDonald (Con) 987 votes, Pat Wiggins (Lab) 647 votes and Mad Mike Young (Loon) 230 votes.

Turnout was 60.8%.

3.20pm - Shock result as Labour loses the Roman ward to Sarah Aldridge (Con) and Paul Fleming (Ukip).

The full results are: Sarah Aldridge (Con) 1,211 votes, Paul Fleming (Ukip) 1,008 votes, Dawn Gale (Con) 784 votes, Georgie Jessiman (Lab) 964 votes, Martin McCusker (Lab) 740 votes.

The turnout was 61.4%.

Mr Fleming said: "I'm really surprised. I was confident, thought Ukip should've done better in the national poll.

"I've lived in the ward for 20-odd years so that helps, and a lot of people I grew up with live in that area.

"It's the first time I've done anything like this so I'm just going to take my lead from party members."

3.30pm - Speaking about his defeat, Mr McCusker (Lab) said: "It was the national picture that did the damage.

"There was a swing all through the south-east to the Conservatives which had an impact. I'm obviously disappointed. I've work hard but these things happen.

"I've taken over headteacher of a special measures school so that's going to keep me busy, then we'll see what campaigns come up."

3.40pm - Mike Henderson (Ind) has just retained his seat in Faversham's Priory ward.

The full results are: Andrew Culham (Con) 356 votes, Michael Henderson (Ind) 610 votes, Janet Miall (Lab), 196 votes, Helen Miller (Green) 61 votes.

The turnout was 62.5%.

Mr Henderson said: "I'm pleased obviously that I won and with quite a substantial increased majority.

"I think we were quietly confident but the electorate are electroate and we really don't know what's happened until they're counted."

3.43pm - Mike Whiting (Con) and Lloyd Bowen (Con) have been elected to the Teynham and Lynsted ward.

The full results are: Lloyd Bowen (Con) 1,680 votes, Philip Dangerfield (Lab) 691 votes, Trevor Fentiman (Ukip) 878 votes, Mike Whiting (Con) 990 votes.

The turnout was 68.5%.

Mr Bowen said: "I'm very very pleased on two fronts because we've returned two Conservatives.

"Our aim is to do the best we can for Teynham and Lynsted.

"I'm going home to put my feet up for a couple of hours before starting again work on Monday morning."

3.48pm - Roger Truelove (Lab) and Alan Horton (Con) have won the Homewood ward.

The full results are: Brenda Hammond (Lib Dem) 295 votes, Alan Horton (Con) 1,171 votes, Christine Palmer (Ukip) 797 votes, Richard Raycraft (Lab) 983 votes, Danielle Smith (Con) 960 votes, Roger Truelove (Lab) 1,052 votes.

The turnout was 69.2%.

Mr Truelove said he had 'mixed feelings' about the result.

He added: "I did want both of us to win and Richard is such a good candidate but we have to accept the views of the electorate and unfortunately we didn't get both seats.

"Like I said before, it was a tough one for us to win particularly against the background of the general election day and Gordon Henderson winning by a country mile and it's not naturally a Labour ward but we were not far behind each other and at one point it looked like Richard may have beaten me.

"We're not going to be a big Labour group on the council obviously and that disappoints me because I think I would like to see us playing a bigger role and we will have to do our best to do that.

"The local results are very much a reflection of the national. Clearly if one party is winning the general election on the day they will be winning lots of the seats because people do the same vote.

"I live in the ward and I will work with Alan for the best of the people that live there."

4.11pm - Colin Prescott has been elected to the East Downs ward in Faversham.

The full results are: Barry Hefferon (Lab), 294 votes, Huw Jones (Green) 274 votes, Colin Prescott (Con) 1,027 votes.

The turnout was 75.2%.

4.19pm - Gerry Lewin (Con) and John Wright (Con) have retained their seats in the Hartlip, Newington and Upchurch ward.

The full results are: Simon Clark (Lab) 534 votes, Gerry Lewin (Con), 1,671 votes, Richard Palmer (Ukip) 1,070 votes, Helen Walker (Ukip) 798 votes, John Wright (Con) 1,226 votes.

The turnout was 73.4%.

4.41pm - David Simmons (Con) and Ted Wilcox have retained their seats in the Watling ward in Faversham.

The full results are: Anna Hefferon (Lab) 707 votes, Viv Moore (Green) 486 votes, Catherine Read (Lab) 806 votes, David Simmons (Con) 1,307 votes, Ted Wilcox (Con) 1,260 votes and Warren Wilson (Ukip) 1,119 votes.

The turnout was 74.2%.

4.58pm - Mike Cosgrove (Con) and Nigel Kay (Con) have won seats in the St Ann’s Ward in Faversham.

The full results are: Mike Cosgrove (Con) 1,096 votes, Paul Cumberland (Ind) 305 votes, Paul Durkin (Lab) 663 votes, Mark Hinton (Ind) 318 votes, Carole Jackson (Lab) 614 votes, Nigel Kay (Con) 879 votes, Gavin McGregor (Green) 327 votes, Juman Simaan (Green) 223 votes, Shelley Wilson (Ukip) 451 votes.

The turnout was 68.7%.

5.01pm - Monique Bonney (Ind) has retained the West Downs ward in Sittingbourne.

The full result was: Monique Bonney (Ind) 838 votes and Keith Ferrin (Con) 807 votes.

Turnout was 78.7% - the highest so far.

Mrs Bonney texted her husband Malcolm, who was at home with their four-year-old son Essian, to let him know she'd won her seat.

The independent councillor said: "I thought I had lost when they were counting as there was a lot [of papers] jumbled together and they had to recount the whole lot I think without a formal request for a recount."

5.09pm - Lesley Ingham (Con) and Padmini Nissanga (Ukip) have won the Sheppey East ward.

The full results are: Lesley Ingham (Con) 815 votes, Padmini Nissanga (Ukip) 1,089 votes, Geoff Partis (no party) 205 votes, Pat Sandle (Con) 680 votes, Mark Tucker (Lab) 336 votes and Matt Wheatcroft (Lab) 273 votes.

The turnout was 61.3%.

5.13pm - Mike Baldock (Ukip) and Nicholas Hampshire (Con) win the Borden and Grove Park ward in Sittingbourne.

The full results are: Mike Baldock (Ukip) 1,344 votes, Margaret Cooper (Lab) 529 votes, Nicholas Hampshire (Con) 1,403 votes, Pat Kazin (Ukip) 623 votes and Gareth Randall (Con) 1,024 votes.

The turnout was 67.9%.

5.20pm - James Hall (Ukip) and Sam Koffie-Williams (Con) win Murston ward in Sittingbourne.

The full results are: James Hall (Ukip) 876 votes, Sam Koffie-Williams (Con) 892 votes, Rosemary Madgwick (Lib Dem) 324 votes, Ken Rowles (Lab) 621 and Paul Wilson (Lab) 466 votes.

The turnout was 54.5%.

6.03pm - Cameron Beart (Con), Richard Darby (Ukip) & Peter Marchington (Con) have won the Queenborough and Halfway ward.

The full results are: Cameron Beart (Con) 1,230 votes, Mick Cole (Lab) 810 votes, Rikki Cole (Lab) 671 votes, Richard Darby (Ukip) 1,551 votes, Eddie Johnson (no party) 258, Peter Marchington (Con) 1,115 and Terry Purvis (Lab) 518 votes.

The turnout was 62.9%.

Mr Darby, who switched from the Conservatives to Ukip last year, said: "I'm surprised to be elected because I thought Queenborough and Halfway was predominantly a Labour ward.

"I think the people of Halfway wanted something different.

"They didn't get a lot of joy out of councillors in Queenborough and I'm going to be a voice for both."

Mr Beart said: "I'm ecstatic. I just want to go out and represent the people.

"I'm very interested in regeneration and the heritage of Queenborough and I really want to invest in it.

"It's been such a good turnout.

"It doesn't matter who people voted for, they made their voices heard and I'm glad the people of Queenborough and halfway chose me."

6.20pm - Mike Dendor (Con) and Sue Gent (Con) have won seats in the Kemsley ward.

The full results are: Derek Carnell (Ukip) 952 votes, Andy Cooper (Lab) 561 votes, Mike Dendor (Con) 1,031 votes, Sue Gent (Con) 1,118 votes, Libby McCusker (Lab) 556 votes, Mary Zeng (Lib Dems) 194 votes.

The turnout was 61.9%.

Cllr Gent, who retained her seat in Kemsley ward, said: "I feel great. I'm very pleased.

"It was close between us and UKIP."

Her colleague Mike Dendor (Con) who won the second seat in the ward, said: "I'm exhausted as I was there through the night for the count.

"I'm pleased obviously as it's on a day the Conservative party has done so well across the country so it's the icing on the cake for both of us."

6.38pm - Mick Galvin (Ukip), Angela Harrison (Lab) and Mark Ellen have been elected to the Sheerness ward.

The full results are: John Dewey (Con) 1,054 votes, Mark Ellen (Lab) 1,149 votes, Mick Galvin (Ukip) 1,562 votes, Angela Harrison (Lab) 1,315 votes, David Kemp (Lib Dem) 278 votes, Andrew Scott (Con) 742 and Steve Worrall (Lab) 1,106 votes.

The turnout was 52.1%.

Mr Worrall said: "I'm disappointed, but I've had a good run - I've been a councillor for 42 years.

"I don't understand Ukip. They're very good on promises they know they can't keep.

"I don't know about retiring from politics.

"I'll probably be in politics one way or another as a member of the Labour party."

7.17pm - George Bobbin and Andrew Bowles have retained their seats in the Boughton and Courtenay ward in Faversham.

The full results are: George Bobbin (Con) 1,434 votes, Andrew Bowles (Con) 1,535 votes, Valerie Collman (Lab) 518 votes, Eve Martin (Ukip) 676 votes, Ashok Rehal (Lab) 403 votes, Jeff Tutt (Ind) 579 votes and Tim Valentine (Green) 479 votes.

The turnout was 72.8%.

7.22pm - A shock result has come in as Labour leader Adam Tolhurst has lost his seat.

It comes after Roger Clark (Con) and Katy Coleman (Ukip) were elected to the Milton Regis ward in Sittingbourne.

The full results are: Roger Clark (Con) 993 votes, Katy Coleman (Ukip) 849 votes, David Spurling (Lib Dem) 252 votes, Adam Tolhurst (Lab) 845 and Tony Winckless (Lab) 754 votes.

The turnout was 59.6%.

A visibly shocked Mr Tolhurst said: "I knew it was going to be tight and it was.

"After eight years I'll have time to do other things outside of politics.

"I will still be involved in the local Labour Party.

"I wish the two winning candidates well. It's a special ward which Tony Winckless and myself have taken to our hearts."

7.38pm - Duncan Dewar-Whalley (Con) and Ben Stokes (Con) have been elected in the Bobbing, Iwade and Lower Halstow ward.

The full results are: Lloyd Chapman (Ukip) 881 votes, Duncan Dewar-Whalley (Con) 1,295 votes, Nigel Randell 656 votes and Ben Stokes 1,336 votes.

The turnout was 73.1%.

7.41pm - Andy Booth (Con) Adrian Crowther (Ukip) and Ken Pugh (Con) have retained their seats in the Minster Cliffs ward in Sheppey.

The full results are: Andy Booth (Con) 1,528 votes, Adrian Crowther (Ukip) 1,552 votes, Ken Pugh (Con) 1,479 votes, Heather Thomas-Pugh (Con) 1,217 votes and Libby Tucker (Lab) 864 votes.

The turnout was 65.8%.

7.52pm - Derek Conway (Con) and George Samuel (Con) have taken the Woodstock ward in Sittingbourne in the last count of the night.

The full results are: James Beer (Lab) 473 votes, Lee Burgess (Ukip) 762 votes, Shelley Cheesman (Lab) 458 votes, Derek Conway (Con) 1,604 votes, Ian Davison (Ukip) 692 votes, Ann McLean (Lib Dem) 332 votes, George Samuel (Con) 1,238 votes, Sue Senior (no party) 184 votes, Allyson Spicer (no party) 152 votes.

The turnout was 74.7%.

8pm - Cllr Bowles, leader of Swale council, said: “I’m very pleased with the results.

“I think people have judged our administration on its record and in what we have delivered for the borough in what have been very difficult circumstances because of the austerity measures that have had to be implemented as a result of the terrible Labour government prior to 2010.

“Part of the credit for this result goes down to the fact we have a very strong group.

“We already had a strong group of councillors and we are very lucky this time to have an intake of exemplary candidates, most of who have become councillors, and will provide a firm foundation for the borough going forward.

“It is not going to get easier because the country’s finances are still in a period of recovery but I believe we have the right team to deliver the best possible services.”