DESPITE a crushing defeat for nationalist parties in Bromley, far-right candidates in neighbouring Downham were celebrating after Thursday's vote.

The BNP's Barry Roberts and Mary Culnane both beat the ward's Conservative candidates by more than 100 votes.

Liberal Democrat candidate Councillor Matthew Huntbach won the ward with 1,069 votes.

The lone far-right candidate in Bromley, Terry Blackham, was given short-shrift in Mottingham and Chislehurst North.

The National Front-Rights for Whites contender received 192 votes a sixth of that collected by victorious Conservative Councillor Roger Charsley, with 1,155 votes.