TORIES in Thanet swept to victory on a true blue tide increasing their majority in the district council and promised to maintain their regeneration drive across the island.

With 33 seats as opposed to Labour’s 19, three Independent seats and a landmark first ever win for the Ramsgate First campaigners, the Tories have a clear mandate to bring out the best of Thanet according to leader Sandy Ezekiel.

He said: "Our main message is that Thanet is open for business. We have so much potential in this island and we will continue with the excellent foundations we laid during the last four years.

"We will work closely with the private sector to ensure best value projects form an intergral part of the island’s success.

"Community schemes form an important part of our long term plan and we are working with and listening to the electorate. The election result shows faith in our vision and we intend to deliver."

North Thanet Conservative MP Roger Gale praised the win and added: "The party has been given a vote of confidence and have the opportunity to take the island further forward with a proper working majority. Residents and businesses will expect them to deliver - I am sure they can."

Richard Nicholson, leader of the council’s Labour group, said the result was "not the storming Conservative gain predicted from the national picture".

He added: "We will strive to ensure that the voice of the people is heard and will reflect their concerns over issues such as housing at Westwood, the Turner Contemporary arts centre, the take over of the Theatre Royal, traffic congestion and the erosion of the green belt. We will continue to be their eyes and ears."

During this week Cllr Ezekiel and Cllr Nicholson are among candidates seeking re-election as leaders of their parties.