The Conservatives have won the most seat at Thanet District Council but no party gained control of the council in the local elections.

Neither party have ruled out negotiating alliances to take a controlling majority to pass the 29-seat mark needed for overall power.

The Tories were the closest after voters went to the polls yesterday but ended four short on 25.

Labour had a very good day gaining 16 seats giving them a total of 20, while it was a groundbreaking election for the Green Party.

They made their breakthrough in the district claiming their first seats ever in Thanet with three overall on the new council.

Tory leader, Bob Bayford, says his party has "bucked the trend" compared to the national picture and across the county as the party lost seats and high profile councillors in several parts of Kent.

He said: "Hopefully people looked at what we did in control over the last year and saw something good. The team worked very hard and we're very pleased."

Cllr Bayford did not rule out negotiating with other groups to form a majority ruling administration but described it as "early days" and that his group will be "stand back and appraise" in the coming days.

Labour councillor Karen Constantine echoed the caution about negotiating for control saying "lots of things need to take into consideration and discussions to take place" but she believes there are "deals to be done on issues".

"We're really thrilled and super pleased with this but we've worked for this and run a really good campaign" she added.

"What's happened is people have seen the paper thin tissue of Tory promises. People are really struggling under austerity and are beginning to understand it's a lie and a political and things don't have to be as they are."

It was a slow start to the count, which started at 11.30am, with only four wards declared by 3pm but a flurry of results for the remaining 19 were announced in the following two hours.

First blood went to Labour as they took both seats in the first result declared - Newington ward - with Karen Constantine and Rick Everitt elected.

Council leader Bob Bayford (Con) retained his place on the council in Kingsgate ward with a comfortable majority early in the day with almost twice as many votes as his Labour opponent, Richard Symonds.

The count at the Winter Gardens in Margate this afternoon revealed the results of the make up of the 56-seat council.

Voting took place at 51 polling stations across the district with 161 candidates fighting out to join the council across 23 wards.

A split vote in Viking Ward saw Roger Binks and David Saunders tied on 770 votes each for the third and final seat.

They drew lots - two envelopes, one with a cross and one without - to decide with David Saunders picking the one with the cross to be elected.

The Tories previously held 22 seats in the chamber - not enough for an overall majority - but they were the leading party ahead of the Independent and Ukip group and Thanet Independent Councillors.

Turnout has been low with the impact of Brexit and voters' disillusion with Westminster thought to be behind the poor numbers.

It was announced at 30.15% with 30,442 ballots cast out of a possible 100,969.

The political landscape in Thanet has seen many twists and turns since the last election in 2015.

The district became the country's first - and so far only - Ukip-controlled authority four years ago.

But a series of splits led the group to break into two with the Conservatives taking over as the leading party last year.

Ukip only fielded three candidates in the entire district yesterday winning no seats.