Political analysts will be hard pushed to explain the results of yesterday's by-elections for Tonbridge and Malling council.

Voters went to the polls in three different seats - and returned candidates from three different parties.

In Castle Ward, Anna Cope from the Green Party was elected. She was comfortably ahead of her nearest rival, Conservative Johural Islam.

In Kings Hill Ward, Conservative Dan Harman took the winner's laurels, with over double the vote of his nearest rival, Independent candidate Louis Westlake.

But in West Malling and Leybourne, it was Lib Dem Paul Boxhall who triumphed, substantially ahead of the second-placed Conservative candidate.

The turnout in Castle Ward was 34.7%, relatively high for a by-election.

In Kings Hill, it was 18.6% , which is low.

In West Malling it was 27.6, which is about average

All three seats were previously held by Conservatives, who retain a large overall majority on the council.

The standing on the 54-seat council is now Conservatives 37, Lib Dems 9, Greens 4, Independent Alliance 3, Labour 1.

Castle Votes

Anna Cope (Green) 731 (Elected)

Johurul Islam (Conservative) 454

Julian Wilson (Labour) 48

Kings Hill Votes

Dan Harman (Conservative) 740 (Elected)

Louis Westlake (Independent) 316

Raja Zahidi (Liberal Democrat) 191

West Malling and Leybourne Votes

Paul Boxall (Lib Dem) 776 (Elected)

David Thompson (Conservative) 624

Jordan Mahoney (Green) 137

Robin Potter (Labour) 29