THE British National Party (BNP) has lost a seat on Loughton Town Council to the Independent Loughton Residents' Association (LRA).

In a close three-way fight Katie Nicholson of the LRA won by just 23 votes ahead of The BNP’s Edward Long in the Loughton Broadway seat.

The full results are: • Katie Nicholson (LRA) – 257 votes • Edward Long (BNP) – 234 votes • Jill Bostock (Labour) – 204 votes • Iqbal Kalkatt – (Conservative) – 75 votes

The election was called after the resignation of the sitting councillor Gary Martin.