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SOUTHEND Conservatives are in crisis after the electorate kicked out their second leader in two years.

Murray Foster lost his Prittlewell seat to Lib Dem candidate Ric Morgan, a former headteacher and radio presenter.

Last year, then Tory council leader and fellow Prittlewell councillor Anna Waite lost her seat to the Lib Dems.

Conservatives have poured their resources into Prittlewell ward over the past week to campaign to save Mr Foster's seat.

It came after local party officials said grassroots members must fight to avoid the "shame" of losing the second leader in two years.

The loss of Mr Foster will leave the Conservatives searching for a new leader.

With Anna Waite being re-elected in St Luke's, it has been suggested she could be brought in again as a leader.

Mr Foster said: "Personally I am very disappointed.

"Thank you for your support. I now move on."

Mr Foster said he was puzzled about losing because he had put his heart and soul into representing the people of Prittlewell.

He said he was consdering qutting politics.

Mr Morgan said he looked forward to represent the people of Prittlewell.