by Martin Jefferies

Bob Grove swept to victory in the district by-election for the Thanet Villages ward.

The Independent candidate, who said he opposed the China Gateway development and night flights from Kent International Airport at Manston, took 937 votes - just under half of the total.

Peter Landi (Con) came home in second place with 596 votes, followed Louisa Latham (Lib Dem) with 316.

Labour's Rebecca Scobie came last, taking just 133 votes and echoing her party's poor performance in the county elections.