IN 2004, the Conservatives took control of Thurrock Council after years of Labour misrule.

Since then, the Conservatives have delivered real results for the people of our borough.

We have delivered the lowest Council Tax in Essex while making improvements in key local services.

We have turned around Labour's failing services and invested more money in care and support for the elderly and vulnerable, in cleaning and greening our borough, and in our schools which have recently achieved some of their best ever results.

We have a record of achievement and a promise of more to come.

Over the next two years, we want to continue investing in key services.

We pledge to keep the Council Tax low, to campaign against unsustainable housing development and Labour's plans for 18,500 new homes across our borough.

We will continue working for a clean and green borough.

A return of Labour would be a disaster for Thurrock. Labour's plans would add £400 a year to the Council Tax at band D.

Ken Livingstone wants to make us the 34th London Borough, adding £300 a year to our bills alone.

Remember the last time Labour ran our Council?

A 48 per cent hike in the Council Tax in just four short years, while services failed.

Last year, Labour came close to re-taking control of Thurrock Council.

Is a Labour win here really the message you want to send to Gordon Brown on May 1.

The key Tory policies in Thurock are:

Help families keep more of their own cash by continuing our track record of low Council Tax. The 2.5 per cent increase in 2008/9 was the lowest for nine years and the lowest in Essex. Council Tax increased by 48 per cent over the last four years of Labour control.

Defend our green belt from Labour's unsustainable house building plans. Labour plan to build an additional 18,500 new houses in Thurrock.

Drive up recycling to protect our environment and ensure less rubbish goes into landfill sites. We will maintain a weekly collection and provide more facilites for recycling. Under the Conservatives recycling in Thurrock reached 30 per cent.

More Bobbies' on the beat including launching a Special Constable recruitment scheme.

Crack down on crime with more CCTV, PCSOs and a stronger Anti-Social Behaviour Team. Latest police figures indicate a nine per cent fall in Thurrock-based crime. Under the previous Labour council, crime rose by 15 per cent between 1998-2004.

Continue to be tough on criminals by prosecuting and fining environmental offenders and graffiti vandals.

Thurrock's Conservative Council has fined around 500 people for offences such as littering, and successfully prosecuted nearly 50 fly tipping offenders.

Conservatives have also:

Delivered Thurrock's best ever GCSE results with 60 per cent getting 5 A* to C grades. Education was failing under Labour.

Invested an extra £400,000 in Children's Services to give the Borough's children a brighter future.

£2 million extra invested in social care to give the elderly and vulnerable the care they deserve