Big-name Essex councillors who’ve lost their seatspublished at 11:42 BST

11:42 BST

Ian Puckey
BBC Essex Senior Producer

A number of senior Conservative councillors have lost their seats in the local elections.

John Spence (pictured below), cabinet member for health and adult social care and county councillor for Chelmer Division of Essex County Council since 2013, lost out to Reform UK’s Paul Clark in Danbury and the Hanningfields.

Another cabinet member, Peter Schwier, who’s known as the climate tsar, lost in Hedingham to 19-year-old Nathan Robbins of Reform.

Mark Durham, the arts and culture cabinet member, lost in Maldon Rural North to Reform.

Tom Cunningham, another cabinet member, was ousted in the Three Fields and Great Notley division.

Labour’s Ivan Henderson, the former MP for Harwich, also lost his county council seat, as did Dave Blackwell, an Independent on Canvey.

On Southend-on-Sea City Council, long-serving Independent councillor Martin Terry – who served as cabinet member for community safety – was also ousted.

A man wearing a checked jacket and checked shirt looks at the camera. He is standing in front of some steps.Image source, Essex County Council