The Conservatives and the Greens had the most reason to celebrate in the local government elections which were dominated by voter apathy.

Interest in the council elections reached a new low as voter turnout averaged between 20 per cent to 35 per cent.

But the polls did bring good news for the Tories who romped home to win back control of Maldon District Council for the first time in 16 years and the Greens who scooped two seats on Braintree Council.

It now controls more than half the council's 30 seats. Maldon Mayor Peter Nickolls lost his bid to win a seat on the district council.

Tories also made significant inroads into Labour's hold over Braintree Council. Labour lost six seats, leaving them with just 31 councillors.

Jenny Jarvis, constituency chairman for the Conservatives, said: "We are delighted because we are on our way back. Our seats have increased by seven and we intend to make a big impression on Braintree District Council."

But the shock result of the night was the Green Party's storming of the Witham Silver End and Rivenhall ward where they captured both seats from Labour.

It was a victory for the eco party who had been campaigning heavily against controversial waste plans - which could include waste incinerators at Rivenhall.

The Conservatives were also celebrating in Chelmsford after winning enough seats to bring an end to the Liberal Democrat stronghold on the borough council leaving it hung.

Elsewhere the Tories clawed back seats in the Lib Dem heartland of Colchester and took seven seats on Tendring.

But the elections brought bad news for the Lib Dems who lost three seats in Braintree and were completely wiped out in Maldon after its only councillor stood down.

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