Voters in North Loose have given their overwhelming support to Maidstone's first Neighbourhood Plan.

Ninety-five percent of those who went to the polls voted Yes to the plan which will now become official supplementary planning policy.

Presiding officer Paul Welsford announced the result at 11.20pm, after his tellers spent an hour counting the ballot papers at the Vine Church in Boughton Lane.

The result was 1,332 Yes votes, with 77 No votes and one void ballot paper.

Mr Welsford described the turnout of 34.8% as "very high" for a referendum.

Sean Carter, chairman of the planning team from the North Loose Residents Association which drew up the Plan, said: "It's a fantastic result. A very high turnout.

"Of course, I'm disappointed that 77 people voted against, but I believe the overwhelming Yes vote shows that people do want to take a hand in shaping their own future."