Independent candidate Anne Chalk has been elected to represent Shoebury on Southend Borough Council.

A by-election was called after councillor Mike Assenheim sadly passed away earlier this year after suffering a heart attack.

Mr Assenheim was chairman of Shoeburyness Residents’ Association and of the Coalition of Borough Residents’ Associations before becoming a councillor for Shoebury ward in September 2007.

Anne, who was previously a member of the council between 2011 and 2015, won the seat with 886 votes and a majority of 56. Conservative candidate Val Jarvis was second with 830.

Labour candidate Maggie Kelly received 381 votes while UKIP's Edward McNally received 121. Liberal democrat Gavin Spencer came in last with 119 votes.

Councillor Chalk will join fellow independent councillor Nick Ward and Conservative councillor Roger Hadley to represent the residents of Shoebury at the council.

There are now 27 Conservative councillors, 10 Labour councillors, 11 Independent councillors, 2 Liberal Democrats and one councillor who is unaligned.