The Conservatives have strengthened their grip on the traditional blue stronghold of Rother.

They made a comfortable win in the district council election and gained two seats.

It gives the party a substantial majority over its rivals with 28 out of 38 places.

Carl Maynard, a Tory victor in Brede Valley, said: "We are in the best position we have ever been in on Rother District Council.

"People voted for us because we have done what we said we'd do over the last four years. But there is still a lot to do.

"We were also the only party to guarantee that Rother will have the lowest council tax in East Sussex."

Coun Maynard said one of the best results was in Crowhurst where Conservatives won against long-standing Liberal Democrat John Kemp by just three votes.

However, stalwarts Peter Fairhurst and Robert White failed to keep their seats in St Michael's and Battle.

There were celebrations for the Liberal Democrats who made gains.

They increased their representation by two seats and now have eight district councillors.

It means they stay the second most powerful group on the council.

Stephen Hardy, press officer for Rother Liberal Democrats, was pleased with the party's success though he failed to get re-elected.

He said: "The council has lost a bit of its diversity in opposition but it's a good overall result for us.

"We are very pleased to have extended our representation in Bexhill where we now have three councillors instead of one. "This is great news for the future.

"The losers in this election have really been Labour and the Independents."

Labour suffered a huge upset by losing its only seat.

District council vice-chairman Samuel Souster was booted out.

Mr Souster, who is deputy leader of Rother's Labour Group, was beaten in the Rye ward by the Conservatives.

Liberal Democrat Sonia Holmes and Conservative David Russell won Rye's two seats.