GRAVESHAM'S Conservative leader Mike Snelling said he was "over the moon" at the result which saw his party secure a 10-seat victory over Labour.

The Conservatives successfully beat disillusioned former Conservative candidates in the Whitehill and Woodlands wards who stood as independents and threatened to split the Tory vote.

The Conservatives also routed all three Labour candidates to win the crucial three-seat Singlewell ward.

In his victory speech, Mr Snelling paid tribute to three Conservative councillors who had died since the 2003 elections, Don Menzies, Colin Jupp and Malcolm Burgoyne.

Mr Snelling admitted that public disaffection with the national government had played a role in their stunning victory.

"The shine has gone off the current Government and the current administration," he said. "Now we need to be such a sparking council."

Ousted Labour leader John Burden said he was still prepared to fight on as opposition leader if his colleagues wished it.

He said: "The Conservatives recognise they need to work with us. The real test now is whether they follow through with their election pledges. If they don't, the people that will suffer will be the residents of this borough."

The election defeat also saw Harry Smith, Gravesham's Mayor and Labour candidate, lose his Painter's Ash seat.

An unprecedented number of postal votes boosted the election turnout to 36.4 per cent, a significant improvement on 2003 turnout of 31 per cent.

The Conservative group is to meet this Saturday to formally choose its, and the council's, caretaker leader.

Mr Snelling is expected to assume the leadership of the council once a by-election in his Meopham North seat is held on June 21.