Matt Knight
BBC political reporter, Essex

The Conservatives had a great night five years ago here in Essex as Boris Johnson convinced voters to back him and "Get Brexit Done".

All 18 Essex seats were held by the Tories with many increasing majorities as the Labour vote declined while Reform, then the Brexit Party, stood aside.

The largest Conservative majority at the last election was in Rayleigh and Wickford, where Mark Francois was 31,000 votes ahead. The smallest was in Colchester where Will Quince ended up 9,423 ahead.

Could we see a much closer finish this time?

Image source, Press Association

Matt Knight
BBC political reporter, Essex

The turnout figure has been announced here in Clacton at 59.63 per cent, which is slightly down on 2019 when it was 61.3 per cent.

Considering the dramatic landslide victory forecast in the exit polls, could the Conservatives' blue wall be set to crumble in Essex?

All 18 seats in the county were held by the Tories until Parliament was dissolved.

It could be a very different picture come later this morning.

There will be a new MP in Harlow today, regardless of the party who voters go for.

Veteran Conservative Robert Halfon decided he would not stand again, leaving his Tory replacement hoping to hang on to his 14,000 majority.

But this is a bellwether town and so, since 1983, the party winning here has gone on to win the general election.

Labour will hope it is them, but they did not manage to win control of the local council in May when the Tories clung on.

Image source, Steve Scruton/BBC

Charlotte Rose
Senior Reporter

The UK's "only homeless candidate" in these elections Kamla Sangha said she had stood to "raise awareness" about the plight of homeless people in the city and across the country.

Kamla said she became homeless after fleeing domestic abuse and has been "kept alive" by the kindness of businesses and people in Chelmsford city centre.

She would like an incoming government to focus on social housing provision, and to make sure that British people are housed before those newly arrived from oversees.

Ms Sangha said that while she did not expect to win many votes, she felt it was "important to put the issue on the ballot paper."

Charlotte Rose
Senior Reporter

The turnout figure for Chelmsford is 66.1%, a fall from the figure in 2019 which was 71%. The total number of votes cast is 50,868.

All ballot boxes have been accounted for in the North West Essex count, our reporter Tia Blake-Prince says.

There has already been controversy - and panic - surrounding this seat, which has replaced the Saffron Walden constituency.

Uttlesford District Council had to apologise last week after 2,600 postal votes were sent late because of "human error".

Chief executive Peter Holt said: "I'm mortified. I take full responsibility for it, and I cannot apologise too much."

Image source, PA Media

Matt Knight
BBC political reporter, Essex

For the first time in a long time, Labour have been on the march here in Essex.

Sir Keir Starmer has especially enjoyed visiting Thurrock. He first came here to launch his six steps for change leaflet just before the general election was called, but then came back to launch a crackdown on antisocial behaviour when he spoke to BBC Essex.

Matt Knight
BBC political reporter, Essex

The Liberal Democrat leader, Sir Ed Davey, has been taking part in numerous activities from bungee jumping to paddleboarding.

In Chelmsford he came to learn about CPR and first aid as he took part in a workshop alongside the local Lib Dem candidate, Marie Goldman.

And yes he did do the chest compressions on the mannequin to Stayin Alive by the Beegees.

Matt Knight
BBC political reporter, Essex

They are standing everywhere in Essex, but it's fair to say a certain Nigel Farage has taken most of the attention up in Clacton.

He announced his intention to stand late in the day and replaced his party's existing candidate and has since been spreading his message across Tendring.

Local candidates have also been making their case at hustings across the county and at the BBC Essex debates, but it's fair to say Mr Farage steals the limelight on the doorsteps.

During the election campaign the BBC has been asking you what really matters in your community.

Some issues including the language used around immigration and helping young people engage in their communities were put to the politicians standing in Colchester.

The debate has been condensed into five key takeaways here.

You can find a full list of the candidates standing for a seat in Colchester here.

During the election campaign the BBC has been asking you what really matters in your community.

Four of the nine candidates hoping to secure a seat in Chelmsford debated issues from crime and people's safety, immigration and potholes, in a pie and mash shop.

The debate has been condensed into five key takeaways which you can read in full here.

You can also see a list of the candidates standing in Chelmsford here.

Polls have closed and counting has begun in Brentwood and Ongar, reports James Davies. Volunteers sit in rows, heads down, hands working overtime.

Six weeks have flown by fast for the candidates here. Just a few more hours before they find out if this safe Tory seat is safe no more.

Incumbent Conservative MP Alex Burghart says he will not talk to us until more votes are in, while Labour's Gareth Barrett also shakes his head.

Matt Knight
BBC political reporter, Essex

Image source, Thurrock Council

It will be a long night for some, but in other parts of the county, results could come in just a couple of hours. Here are some estimated declaration times:

• Basildon and Billericay - 12.30am
• Brentwood and Ongar - 4am
• Braintree - 4am
• Castle Point - 1.30am to 2am
• Chelmsford - 4am
• Clacton - 4am
• Colchester 2.30am
• Epping Forest 2.30am
• Harlow - 2am
• Harwich and North Essex - 4am
• Maldon - 5am
• North West Essex - 2am
• Rayleigh and Wickford - 12.30am
• South Basildon and East Thurrock - 3am to 4am
• Southend East and Rochford - 3am
• Southend West and Leigh - 3am
• Witham - 4am
• Thurrock - 3am to 4am

It has been a tough year for the Conservatives in Basildon, having surrendered almost half of their seats on Basildon Council in May.

Tory group leader Andrew Baggott is at the count in Basildon and Billericay, where a 57.26% turnout has just been announced.

“There is a real anger out there from people with regards to how the party have acted nationally," he says.

"The party has, I think, lost its way and forgotten that it is the people that actually decide these things, or should decide these things, and they feel left out about it.”

Image source, Theo Beevers/BBC

Charlotte Rose
BBC Essex

The Liberal Democrats were the only party to have arrived at the count in Chelmsford in time to see the exit polls.

Stephen Robinson, the Leader of Chelmsford City Council, said that if it was correct, it would see his party make a "significant improvement on the past three general elections".

He added that his party had hoped to gain an extra "30 to 40 seats" so if they were to gain more than that it would be an "excellent result."

Charlotte Rose
BBC Essex

Ballot boxes have begun to arrive at the count in Chelmsford, brought in via shopping trolleys.

The estimated declaration time for this count is between 2.30am and 4am.

First the votes will be verified to check none have been lost and then the counting process will begin in earnest.

Martin Goss, who is standing for the Lib Dems in Colchester, says exit polls forecasting 61 seats for his party nationally is "fantastic news".

Sir Bob Russell, of the Lib Dems, held the seat in Essex's newest city between 1997 and 2015 before he was succeeded by Conservative Will Quince.

"Huge change is needed and coming," Mr Goss tells BBC Essex.

Image source, Ian Wyatt/BBC

Matt Knight
BBC political reporter, Essex

The counting of votes in Harwich and North Essex will take place inside this marquee, set up on the multi-sports court at Clacton Leisure Centre.

Theo Beevers is live from the count in Basildon and Billericay:

Green Party candidate Stephen Goshawk has arrived. He came fourth in the 2019 general election for Basildon and Billericay. Stephen, who is also the Grays Athletic FC director has said in a party statement that he’ll “use his experience to protect our nature and leave it in a better state for our children.”

Image source, Theo Beevers