The Labour Party have taken control of Thanet District Council for the first time in two decades, after picking up 15 seats in yesterday’s local election.

Most of the gains came at the expense of the Conservatives, who saw their party leader, Ash Ashbee, lose a close race in Westbrook ward.

Labour took 40% of the vote and will now govern the Kent coast council with 30 members and majority of one.

Voters granted the Tories 17 seats, with the Green Party, Thanet Independents and the Independents ending up with 5, 3 and 1 representatives respectively.

The count today at Margate’s Dreamland got off to a quick start with Labour’s Helen Whitehead and Rob Yates cruising to victory in the town’s central ward just after 10.30am.

That was followed by further Labour victories over the Conservatives in Newington, Northwood and Westbrook, where former Tory boss Ash Ashbee lost by just three votes.

Ashbee left Dreamland promptly after results were announced around 12pm.

Meanwhile, Labour leader Rick Everitt easily won reelection, beating his closest rival by 179 votes.

“It’s a great day for Labour here in Thanet, and a great day for the Labour Party,” said Cllr Everitt.

“We’ve run a good campaign, we’ve got really good candidates, and people have put their trust in us this time and we’re going to repay that trust.”

The overall election was called for Labour at about 6pm, when victories for incumbents Alan Currie, Heather Keen and Harry Scobie in Cliftonville West took their party over the line.

Expectingly, a large group of Labour councillors took to the announcement stage when the votes for the traditionally Labour ward was called.

The group loudly cheered when the results were read out - they had held all three seats, and in doing so, wrested control over the district council for the first time since 2003.