CONSERVATIVES have been wiped out at Castle Point Council as the independent parties have gained all seats on the council.

The Tories have lost all eight of their seats on the council as The Canvey Island Independent Party and The People's Independent Party won all 39 seats.

Thirteen Conservative candidates were barred from standing after a “human error” on the nomination papers.

A Conservative spokesman said at the time: “Due to human error on nomination papers, 13 of the candidates are unable to stand in next month’s elections.

“We fully apologise to those candidates unable to stand and to the local people who will be unable to vote for a Conservative candidate in the upcoming elections.”

Councillor Lynsey McCarthy-Calvert, the mayor of Castle Point, spoke to the Echo ahead of the election count today.

She said: “I am feeling optimistic, I think we have run a good campaign, poling day yesterday was interesting.

"We got to speak to a lot of residents and receive a lot of positive feedback.

“Having been the mayor this year and seeing all the good things in our borough, it has given me a lot of optimism and encouragement to do some really good work.

“So, I would like to stay in the council and continue with the work we have started.”

Click here for all the results at the election count today.