THE TORIES held their Rochford District Council seat in Hockley North but saw the far right British National Party come second - beating the Liberal Democrats.

Publicly, the Conservatives were hailing the result as a victory, but privately concerns have been expressed about the succcess of the BNP.

The by-election was only the second time the BNP had stood in the Rochford district, having also come in second in Hullbridge last month.

Rayleigh Conservative MP, Mark Francois, said he was pleased the electors of Hullbridge had rejected the BNP.

He added: "The far right BNP has no place in the Rochford district, and this result proves that."

However, BNP agent Dean Fenner was also happy with the result. He said: "The fact we have come second in the two wards where we have stood in the Rochford area shows there is support out there for our policies."

Chris Black, leader of the Liberal Democrat group on the council, said Hockley was not an area where the party had stood in the past.

The by-election was caused by the exclusion from the council of Conservative, Colin Hungate, who had failed to attend any meetings for six months.

The Tories' victorious candidate, Michael Carter, said he was looking forward to serving the people of Hockley on the district council.

Result: Michael Carter (C) 297.

Mark Cooling (BNP) 176.

Mark Pearson (Lib Dem) 127.

Con majority: 121.

No change.

Turnout: 36.55%.