Conservative success in marginal

Lord Hanningfield won by a majority of 70%

The Tory controlling group on Essex County Council has lost three of its council seats, but at the same time has wiped Labour out in a key marginal.

The Lib Dems gained Brentwood North, Brentwood South and an independent candidate took Canvey Island East.

But Tories won the Harlow North and two Harlow West seats from Labour, while the party held Harlow South East.

Harlow was won by Labour in the 2005 general election with a majority of just 97 over the Conservative.

The Conservatives also gained Braintree Town and Bocking from Labour

The Tories also held Canvey Island West, Brentwood Rural, Thundersley, South Benfleet, Rayleigh North, Rayleigh South, Rochford North, Rochford South, Rochford West, Three Fields with Great Notley, Woodham Ferrers, Broomfield and Writtle and Stock.

Expenses row

The Lib Dems held Chelmsford North, Great Baddow and Chelmsford Central.

The election has seen high turnouts across the county, council officials said, with some wards seeing more than 45% of the electorate voting.

So far the Conservatives have 27 councillors (up two from last year), the Lib Dems have seven (up two), independents have one (up one) and Labour has none (down five).

Conservative council leader Lord Hanningfield said he welcomed the victories against Labour.

He added: "I am disappointed that we lost two seats to the Lib Dems."

He said he thought the parliamentary expenses row had helped smaller parties and damaged and hit both the Labour the Conservative vote.

The British National Party had identified Essex as a key battleground. It has been contesting all 75 seats in the county for the first time.

Half the district councils were counting through the night with final results being posted on the county council's website.