UKIP were the big winners in Thurrock’s local elections and have further eaten into Labour’s stronghold on power.

The eurosceptic party dented the reds by taking seven of the 16 seats up for grabs - five from Labour, one from the Tories and one Independent seat.

Labour is still the largest party on the council, but only just.

A hung council will continue, and to vote through policies, Labour will have to rely on an unofficial pact with an opposition party.

UKIP has more than doubled in size on the council since the last elections, going from six seats to 13.Labour leads the way with 18 seats, the Tories 17.

Now, these three weeks leading up to the next Full Council meeting will be crucial.

Labour may have to rely on unofficial “confidence and supple” arrangement, with another party, probably Ukip, to get its policies through.

Or maybe two of the parties will weigh up an official coalition? We’ll have to wait and see.

Since Labour became a minority leadership last May Ukip members have been voting largely in support of Labour proposals. Maybe this will continue.

Meanwhile, Conservative sources were quick to rule out a coop via a coalition between Ukip and the Conservatives.

Tory party leader Rob Gledhill said: "Overall, we are pleased - we have retained our presence in the 17 seats we put up and maintained the trust of the residents - but in terms of getting things done on the council, it's now going to be a difficult, difficult year ahead.".

Councillor Graham Snell, Ukip party leader was chuffed with the result. He said: "It's a fantastic. With a much bigger group we are going to have much bigger influence on the council. Neither Labour or the Tories can vote anything through without us."

Labour council leader John Kent was rather downbeat in the aftermath. He said: "I am, naturally, very disappointed by the local - and national election results. It was a very bad day, nationally, for the Labour Party and we have taken a hit as a result of that.

"Clearly, we have to take stock and think about what our next steps should be. It is crucial that the council remains as stable as possible and we work to provide the best services we can given the huge government funding cuts we have suffered and will now continue to suffer."

A full breakdown of ward-by-ward results is below.

Ward results:

Corringham and Fobbing:

D Stewart (C) 1,279.

C Broad (UKIP) 1,078

T Wodehouse (Lab) 741

Maj: 201

Conservative hold.

West Thurrock and South Stifford:

V Holloway (Lab) 2009

S Curtis (UKIP) 1,237

J Rowles (C) 1034

Maj: 772

Labour hold.

Stifford Clays:

L Gamester (UKIP) 1,452

E Lowe (Lab) 1,075

M Macadangdang (C) 962

Maj: 377

UKIP gain from Lab

East Tilbury:

J Baker (UKIP) 1,004

J Purkiss (Ind) 951

D Turner (Lab) 529

S Cole (C) 496

Maj: 53

UKIP gain from Ind

Tilbury Riverside and Thurrock Park

C Baldwin (Lab) 1,032

C Compton (UKIP) 1,027

S Benton (C) 477

Maj: 5

Lab hold.

Stanford-le-Hope West:

S Hebb (C) 1,308

A Broad (UKIP) 946

E Vine (Lab) 791

Maj: 362

C hold.

Belhus:

G Hamilton (UKIP)1,749

C Curtis (Lab) 1,366

J Biddal (C) 833

Maj: 383

UKIP gain from Lab.

Chafford and North Stifford

M Coxshall (C) 1,491

M Bullion (Lab) 1,096

J Mower (UKIP) 960

Maj: 395

C hold.

Ockendon:

K Wheeler (UKIP) 1,991

B Gadsby (C) 1,297

A Fish (Lab) 1,224

Maj:694

UKIP gain from Lab.

Grays Thurrock:

C Kent (Lab) 1,794

M Heaver (UKIP) 1,323

A Carter (C) 1,013

Maj: 471

Lab hold.

Grays Riverside:

J Pothecary (Lab) 1,721

D Jukes (UKIP) 1,226

J Barnes (C) 1,012

K Mulroue (Lib Dem) 139

Maj: 495

Lab hold.

Little Thurrock Rectory:

T Kelly (C) 1,204

M Wager (UKIP) 1,078

V Offord (Lab) 837

Maj: 126

C hold.

Stanford East and Corringham Town:

C Churchman (UKIP) 1,653

G Collins (C) 1,362

P Smith (Lab) 1,072

Maj: 291

UKIP gain from Lab.

Chadwell St Mary:

R Cherry (UKIP) 1,967

S Shinnick (Lab) 1,518

L Dove (C) 968

Maj: 449

UKIP gain from Lab.

Aveley and Uplands

P Smith (UKIP) 1,598

T Webster (C) 1,120

J O’Regan (Lab) 896

J Livermore (Ind) 373

Maj: 478

UKIP gain from C

Homesteads

P Tolson (C) 1,967

S Andrews (Ukip) 1,446

L.Hall (L) 1,013

G.Byrne (I) 217

Maj: 521