All of the borough's council wards had seats up for grabs, with the fate of the council in the balance. 

The elections, which were delayed by a year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, took place on Thursday with the results announced in the early hours of Friday. 

In most wards, one seat was up for grabs.

However in two, Pretty and Lexden and Braiswick, there were two. 

The Conservatives ended the night with 23 seats, two more than they started with.

The Lib Dems now have 12, losing one, Labour 11, which is no change.

The Green Party gained their second seat on the council in one of the big results of the night.

The Highwoods Independents still have three seats on the council after leader Gerard Oxford was victorious. 

Read more >>> Recap of Colchester Council elections 2021

Here are the results in full by ward:

Berechurch

John Clifton, Green - 78

Dave Harris, Labour - 1,604

Chris Piggott, Con - 470

Mick Spindler, Lib Dem - 193

LAB HOLD

Castle

Martin Gillingham, Lib Dem - 319

Fabian Green, Con - 976

Richard Hill, Lab - 574

Steph Nissen, Green – 1,136

GREEN GAIN FROM LIB DEM

Greenstead

Kevin Blair, Reform UK - 57

Kemal Cufoglu, Green - 135

Michael Hinton, Con - 600

Chantelle-Louise Whyborn, Lib Dem - 222

Julie Young, Lab - 1,097

LAB HOLD

Highwoods

Diane Baker, Reform UK - 64

Clare Burgess, Green - 131

Kieron Franks, Lib Dem - 188

Jocelyn Law, Lab - 401

Gerard Oxford, Ind - 780

Stephen Rowe, Con - 664

IND HOLD

Lexden and Braiswick

Roger Bamforth, Green - 532

Sandra Culham, Lib Dem - 594

Luke Hayes, Lab - 396

Martin Leatherdale, Con - 1,597

Kayleigh Rippinggale-Shaw, Lab - 333

Dennis Willetts, Con - 1,949

CON HOLD AND BY-ELECTION VICTORY

Marks Tey and Layer

Kevin Bentley, Con - 1,880

Neil Gilbranch, Ind - 132

Mark Hull, Lib Dem - 223

Amy Sheridan, Green - 231

John Spademan, Lab - 323

CON HOLD

Mersea and Pyefleet

Peter Banks, Green - 490

John Jowers, Con - 2,126

James Pey, Lab - 272

Susan Waite, Lib Dem - 156

CON HOLD

Mile End

Pauline Bacon, Lab - 328 

Martin Goss, Lib Dem - 1,974

Amanda Kike, Green - 139

Rachel Smith, Con - 583

LIB DEM HOLD

New Town and Christ Church

Bob Brannan, Green - 301

Pam Cox, Lab - 1,521

Carla Hales, Con - 887

Catherine Spindler, Lib Dem - 794

LAB GAIN FROM LIB DEM

Old Heath and Hythe

Soban Asghar, Lib Dem - 235

Rowena Cable, Con - 687

Andrew Canessa, Green - 282

Mike Lilley, Lab - 1,376

LAB HOLD

Prettygate

Richard Bourne, Lab - 513

John Burgess, Green - 250

Natalie Edgoose, Green - 350

Sue Lissimore, Con - 2,136

John Loxley, Lib Dem - 544

Leigh Tate, Con -1,285

Victoria Weaver, Lab - 388

CON HOLD AND BY-ELECTION VICTORY

Rural North

Sue Bailey, Green - 406

Diane Brown, Lab - 367

William Brown, Lib Dem - 359

Darius Laws, Con - 2,207

Andrew Phillips, Reform UK - 84

CON HOLD

Shrub End

Lyn Barton, Lib Dem - 819 

Joe Johnson, Reform UK - 61

Angela Linghorn-Baker, Con - 783

David McCulloch, Lab - 416

Blake Roberts, Green - 136 

LIB DEM HOLD

St Anne’s and St John’s

Abigail Chambers, Lab - 301

Mike Hogg, Lib Dem - 1,241

Pam Nelson, Green - 200

Tom Rowe, Con - 1,214

LIB DEM HOLD

Stanway

Kevin Brown, Lab - 245

Jeremy Hagon, Con - 1,160

John McArthur, Green - 109

Paul Williams, Lib Dem - 987

CON HOLD

Tiptree Ward

Roger Mannion, Con - 1,713

Clare Smee, Green - 206

Jennifer Stevens, Lib Dem - 171

John Wood, Lab - 288

CON HOLD

Wivenhoe

Asa Aldis, Green - 480

Michelle Burrows, Lib Dem - 1,245

Jodie Clark, Con - 496

Cyril Liddy, Lab - 1,020

LIB DEM GAIN FROM LABOUR