The Liberal Democrats have won a key by-election by the tightest of margins in a tussle with the Green Party.

Businessman Chris Passmore, 64, squeezed past Stuart Jeffery by just 11 votes for the Maidstone Central division at Kent County Council.

The parties immediately traded claim and counterclaim about the conduct of their respective campaigns.

The mid-term ballot, held yesterday, was sparked by the death of the long-serving and well-respected Lib Dem Dan Daley, who died earlier this year aged 90.

Arriving at County Hall on an electric bike and sporting a bright yellow Lib Dem tie, management systems consultant Cllr Passmore said: “I’m delighted to have been elected. I hope to focus people’s minds on the environment, both locally and in a more global way.

“I also want to make sure the infrastructure that residents are using is not compromised by new people coming into our communities.”

Post-election, Lib Dem spokesman, Antony Hook, said some of the Green Party’s campaign material was "misleading".

He suggested a better arrangement would have been for the Greens to stand aside to allow an easier Lib Dem victory. The Lib Dems did so in Hythe West to assist Green Party candidate Jenni Hawkins get elected, he said.

Mr Jeffery, the first Green Party Maidstone borough councillor, claimed the Lib Dems had told residents a Green Party vote would allow the Conservatives to get in.

He said: “Of course I’m really disappointed to have lost by 11 votes. The Lib Dems put it about that I couldn’t win and a Green vote would help the Tories get in. But, hey, I lost - that’s politics.

“It shows the Green Party is a force to be reckoned with.”

The Greens have five seats at KCC and have steadily been increasing their share of the vote in the past five years.

MAIDSTONE CENTRAL

Chris Passmore (Lib Dems) 1,860 (29%) ELECTED

Stuart Jeffery (Green Party) 1,849 (28%)

Stanley Forecast (Cons) 1,564 (24%)

David Collier (Lab) 914 (14%)

Graham Jarvis (Reform UK) 278 (4%)

Yolande Kenward (Ind) 56 (1%)

Votes cast: 6,521