Tory MP holds his seat

In a tense night at the De La Warr Pavilion, Greg Barker beat his nearest rival, Lib Dem candidate Mary Varrall, by almost 13,000 votes.

The BNP candidate Neil Jackson, the party's first representative in the constituency, attracted over 1,000 votes.

Trust Party candidate Stuart Wheeler finished in fourth place, behind the Conservatives, Lib Dems and Labour, with nearly 3,000 votes.

For full coverage of the night, and to read how the Tories took Hastings and Rye, get your 12-page election supplement from newsagents around Bexhill. They will be available in most outlets for The Observer from mid-morning.