THREE sitting Bexley councillors lost their seats in Thursday’s election.

The most high profile loss was current mayor, Bernard Clewes.

Mr Clewes scored an unexpected win in 2006, taking one of the three seats in the Labour heartland of Erith ward.

This time, Labour took all three seats and Mr Clewes came fifth of eight candidates.

After the result was announced Mr Clewes said: “I am pleased to have been a councillor and I have thoroughly enjoyed it, but I am probably too old now.

“I am 78 and by the end of this council, I will be 82.”

He added: “Being mayor has been fantastic and so has been the work for charity and helping children.

“I will have good memories of the things I have achieved.”

In Belvedere, David Leaf, another Tory who scooped a formerly safe Labour seat in 2006, lost his seat.

He came fifth this time, out of eight candidates.

Daniel Francis was the third sitting councillor to lose his seat.

Belvedere born and bred, he still lives there and was the only Labour councillor in the ward to survive in 2006.

But he swopped his potentially safe Belvedere seat to stand in Northumberland Heath this time and was the highest placed loser.