The British National Party has become the third largest group on Epping Forest District Council after winning three of the four seats it was contesting.

The trio of successes gives the BNP six seats on the 58-member authority.

The Conservatives ended the evening with 29 seats - two more than in the last administration - but one short of the magic 30 needed to have overall control for the first time since 1994.

Theydon Bois Conservative councillor and cabinet member Robert Glozier lost his seat, by 28 votes, to Liberal Democrat Roland Frankel.

Labour are left with just one district councillor - Shelley's Peter Gode whose seat was not up for re-election - after losing three seats to the BNP.

The casualties were sitting councillors Stephen Barnes and Maureen Boatman. The other seat had been held by group leader Joan Davis who retired after 30 years in the chamber.

Council vice-chairman Ann Haigh retained her Buckhurst Hill West seat, but the seat in the same ward which was previously held by Liberal Democrat group leader Michael Heavens - who was one of seven councillors who retired this year - went to the Conservative Robert Church.

The other Conservative gain was in Waltham Abbey Paternoster where John Wyatt took the seat previously held by Independent councillor Reg Chidley.

Environmental protection portfolio holder Derek Jacobs retained his Chipping Ongar, Greensted and Marden Ash seat by just 30 votes.

For full reaction to the results, see next week's Epping Forest Guardian, out on Thursday, May 11.

The new make-up of the 58-seat council is: NEW MAKE-UP OF COUNCIL: Con 29 (+2); Lib Dem 13 (-1); Loughton Residents Association 5; Ind 3 (-1); Labour 1 (-3); BNP 6 (+3); Ind Soc 1.