Labour councillors are celebrating maintaining control of Braintree District Council in last week's elections.

Despite gains by the Conservatives and the Green Party in some seats, 31 out of 60 seats on the district council are Labour controlled, compared to 37 out of 60 in the previous elections.

Overall turnout was 31 per cent across the whole district.

Labour councillor for Witham North, Phil Barlow said the Labour group was content with the result.

"We are delighted because we have still got more than half the seats.

"At the last elections we hit a high point so to maintain Labour control is a real achievement," he said.

The Green Party's gains in Rivenhall and Silver End are its first ever election to district council seats in Essex.

Green councillor, James Abbott said: "This is a fantastic result for the Green Party in Essex.

"We won on local issues, which is what local elections should all be about," he explained.

Leader of the Conservative group, Cllr Ron Hawkins said he was pleased with his party's gains, from 10 seats to 17, but said the low turnout at the polls was disappointing.

"Foor years ago it was a disaster for us because people were voting on nationally but I think they have been voting on local issues this time," he said.

The Independents kept hold of their seven seats.

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