ELECTED Castle Point candidates say they feel 'incredibly honoured' after receiving 'extremely positive' results during this year's local elections.

Castle Point Council will remain an Independent-run authority - albeit with no overall majority - after opposition parties failed to de-throne the current regime.

The authority, made up of 41 councillors across 14 wards, will be overseen by a coalition of both The Canvey Island Independent Party and The People's Independent Party.

The two parties first gained combined control in the May 2022 local elections, which marked the first time since 2003 that the Tories had not had overall control.

Following the victory we asked some of newly appointed representatives how they feel about their wins.

Echo: PIP party candidatesPIP party candidates (Image: Newsquest)

PIP's Benjamin Bizzell, newly elected councillor of Appleton, said: "We were not surprised that we have won tonight as we worked really hard.

"We are honoured and would like to thank all residents who have put their trust in us.

"It is a great achievement for me to stand and represent the residents."

Echo: PIP party members celebrating PIP party members celebrating (Image: Newsquest)

Rob Lillis, councillor for the People's Independent Party and newly voted representative for Boyce, said: "I feel incredibly honoured to be elected as a Boyce ward councillor this evening and I wish to say a massive thank you to all of those residents who put their faith in me. 

"The hard work starts tomorrow and massive thank you to my team who shared the success with me."

Michael Dearson, PIP's newest councillor of St Peter's added: "I'm ecstatic to be elected.

"I consider it an honour to represent the residents and I believe that it is important for us to continue to speak directly with the residents."

Echo: CIIP partyCIIP party (Image: Newsquest)

Conservative councillor Jacqui Thornton was elected in St James ward.

She said: "My focus has always been on St James and the community.

"And that work will continue - regardless of what has happened elsewhere."

Despite not winning any seats, councillor Katie Curtis, chair of the Castle Point Labour Party, feels her party is making up ground in the area.

She said: "We had a couple of encouraging results. 

"In a few counts we had been close to being second, which is a really good improvement for us.

"It gives us a lot of confidence going into elections next year."