THE Conservatives enjoyed a first victory in West Thurrock and South Stifford since 2004 after Labour shot themselves in the foot by deselecting Cllr Qaisar Abbas earlier this year.

He defected to the Tories for his final months on the council before the election and had the the last laugh when he returned to the hustings with a blue rosette and won by 157 votes from his Labour replacement, Dave Harris.

Result:

• Qaisar Abbas, Conservative 1,139
• Dave Harris, Labour 982

Majority 157.

Electorate: 8,684 Ballot Papers Issued: 2,141 Turnout: 24.65%.