Veteran Tendring councillor Roy Smith received the biggest single vote in Tendring Council's election with 1,135.

After being thrown out of the Labour Party, Mr Smith stood as a Community Representative in the Golf Green ward.

Roy Smith

Mr Smith said it was the largest vote he could remember getting in more than 30 years on the council.

"It is very gratifying and I cannot pretend it isn't," he said.

"There is always a fear that when you leave a party for whatever reason it can make a difference at the polls. However, it does not seem to have been the case this time and I am relieved."

Mr Smith, who is also an Essex county councillor, admitted that he had considered standing down for this election but felt his success this time around justified his decision to carry on

Published Friday, May 2, 2003

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