David Cameron on elections: 'These are difficult times'

Labour have made sweeping advances in the local elections in England and Wales, picking up many of the seats they lost four years ago.

The Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats suffered heavy losses, with more than half of votes now counted.

Prime Minister David Cameron said the government had paid the price for taking "difficult decisions" in "difficult times".

All the latest election results are available at bbc.co.uk/vote2012