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UKIP is running its first ever council after a massive landslide in Nigel Farage's target seat.

The party has wiped out Labour on Thanet District Council, turning the authority purple in another heavy blow for Ed Miliband's party.

UKIP now has a massive 33 seats after winning 36% of the votes in the area, compared to 31% for the Tories and 24% for Labour.

Nigel Farage - who has been at the Kent count today just 24 hours after resigning - tweeted his congratulations to party activists.

(Image: Adam Gerrard)

He said the first priority will be to save the county's threatened Manston Airport.

"Congratulations to @UKIP in #Thanet, taking control of the council and making it UKIP's first district council ever," he wrote.

"Now to @SaveManston!"

It is the first time the party has ever been in full control - and will be a key test of its leadership.

The deprived corner of north Kent is likely to attract intense media interest in the same way the Green Party did when they ran Brighton Council.

How Thanet District Council looked in May Thanet District Council

The council's leader and entire cabinet will be made up of Ukip members - and they'll have to manage policies like bin collections and pub and club licensing.

With all the votes counted Nigel Farage's party has 33 of the possible 56 councillors.

The Tories have 18 and the Labour Party - which had the most seats on the council until this week - has just four. There is 1 independent.

It's a huge blow for Labour, who had 26 councillors compared to 22 for the Tories and just 2 for Ukip until this week.

Devastated Green Party councillor Ian Driver, who has lost his seat, claimed a 'high-speed train has swept through Thanet politics'.

He told KentOnline: "Ukip obviously caught the public mood and they are unstoppable".

Nigel Farage sensationally quit as Ukip leader yesterday less than an hour after he was defeated in his bid to become an MP.

The anti-EU leader lost out to Tory rival Craig Mackinlay by nearly 3,000 votes in South Thanet.

He vowed to quit as leader if he lost - but he hasn't ruled out standing as his own replacement in just a few months' time.

Thanet District Council - previously Thanet District Council

He told supporters: "I'm going to take the summer off, enjoy myself a bit, not do much politics at all and there will be a leadership election for Ukip in September.

"And I will consider over the summer whether to put my name forward."