The Liberal Democrats have taken the Deal Town Council seats at the Mill Hill by-election.

John Trickey topped the poll with 1,005 votes, with Patrick Acarnley (pictured) taking the second seat with 953.

Labour's Terry Birkett and Christopher Tough were in third and fourth places respectively and the Conservatives - former Labour councillors Tracy Wilton and Pat Cook - came bottom of the poll.

The by-election was called after Tracy Wilton and Pat Cook resigned over the auditors' controversial report into the council.

Liberal Democrat spokesman Antony Hook said: "It's just fantastic news. Labour had taken Mill Hill for granted. It has been Labour since the Second World War and they thought it would always be theirs. We have proved there are no no-go areas for the Lib Dems.

"We fought a positive campaign and set out what we wanted to achieve, which is change for the better."

Full result: John Trickey (Lib Dem) 1,005; Patrick Acarnley (Lib Dem) 953; Terry Birkett (Lab) 806; Christopher Tough (Lab) 712; Tracy Wilton (Cons) 561; Patricia Cook (Cons) 558.