The winners and losers from Colchester's local elections

Conservative boss Paul Dundas mustered a grimace as Tracy Arnold (Lib Dem) was announced as Stanway’s newest councillor in the early hours of Friday morning.

Mr Dundas conceded he was “never under any illusion” as to how tough the night was going to be, and his prediction was proven right when he was usurped by an almost 400 vote majority.

It means the councillor, who graciously congratulated Ms Arnold upon her victory, was dumped out of leading Colchester Council just one year after he arrived at the table.

Loss - Paul Dundas

And another major scalp was secured in Castle ward as Richard Kirkby-Taylor swooped in to claim the Greens’ third seat in the ward.

It came as the construction worker dumped the council’s environment boss Simon Crow (Con) out of office with an emphatic 626 more votes than his rival.

Mr Kirkby-Taylor said he was feeling “absolutely over the moon” with the result, adding: “I know not everybody liked him [Simon Crow], but everybody respected him.

“Castle Ward has shown it is ready for the Greens to step forward now.”

Success - Richard Kirkby-Taylor

Mr Crow, who was elected in 2018, said the news didn’t come as a surprise to him.

He stated: “I felt it was always going to go this way, but regardless this is an opportunity in life I never thought would happen.

“I have had the best time and enjoyed it so much.”

The familiar face of Paul Smith (Lib Dem) enjoyed success in St Anne’s and St John’s Ward after he romped home with almost 500 votes more than Thomas Rowe (Con).

Mr Smith, who previously led Colchester Council before he lost his seat in 2018, said he was pleased to be making his return having been disappointed in his Conservative successor, Christopher Hayter.

Celebration - Paul Smith

With Phillip Oxford (Indie) stepping down after 14 years, Highwoods had a huge target on its head as all parties scrambled to take control.

And it was Jocelyn Law (Lab) who secured it, with a tight 60 votes more than Stephen Rowe (Con).

Conservative MP Will Quince said he had been at a wedding prior to the count, but it was instead alarm bells which were ringing in his ears throughout the evening.

Mr Quince said he was “devastated” to see his Conservative colleagues lose their seats.

Disappointed - Will Quince (Image: UK Parliament)

He stated: "In particular Paul Dundas as he has just done the most amazing job over the past ten or eleven months, really invigorating the council.

"Of course I am sad and my thoughts are with the candidates because the results didn't reflect how much hard work they've put in."

Reflecting on whether Partygate impacted the local Conservatives, Mr Quince added: "We are going to have to go out and listen to people and understand why they voted they way they did.

"Some of the reasoning will be on national issues, some local, and we need to reflect and look at where we need to change."