DARTFORD Conservatives have retained the Castle Ward council seat left vacant by the death of Councillor Sheila East in June.

Paul Cutler, 51, was elected at the by-election held on Thursday (September 27) with 43 per cent of the vote, with 24-year-old Hayley Reece coming second for Labour on 25 per cent. 

Cllr East, who was Dartford's mayor in 2007, lost her battle with cancer at the age of 66. 

She had been a member of Stone Parish Council since May 2003, first becoming a councillor in 1987 when she joined Swanscombe and Greenhithe Town Council.

During 2003, she was elected to Dartford Borough Council for Castle Ward.

The composition of Dartford Council remains 31 Conservative, nine Labour and four Swanscombe and Greenhithe Residents Association.

Full Castle Ward results:

1. Paul Cutler, The Conservative Party, 191 votes, 43.02 per cent, Elected.

2. Hayley Louisa Reece, The Labour Party, 111 votes, 25 per cent, Not elected.

3. Stephen Wilders, UK Independence Party, 60 votes, 13.51 per cent, Not elected.

4. Vic Openshaw, Swanscombe and Greenhithe Residents Association, 50 votes, 11.26 per cent, Not elected.

5. Frances Elizabeth Moore, English Democrats,  32 votes, 7.21 per cent, Not elected.