Pamela Tickell
BBC News, Blyth

Emma Foody, newly-elected Labour MP for Cramlington and Killingworth, said the area's communities had "voted overwhelmingly for change".

"It's been 14 long years for our communities," she said.

"The scale of the challenge is great. We will repay that trust”

Labour has held Cramlington and Killingworth with Emma Foody securing 49% of the votes, while Reform came second and the Conservatives third.

Helen Richardson
Political reporter, BBC Radio Newcastle

Chi Onwurah, who has held her seat in Newcastle Central & West for Labour, said the early results had been a resounding success for the party.

"Today has been a day of unity and an overwhelming call for change in our community," she said.

"Our future as a community, as a nation, will be so much brighter together.

"Now is the time to come together for a better Newcastle."

Mark Ferguson wins with a healthy lead over Reform in second and Lib Dems in third.

Labour has held Gateshead Central and Whickham, with Reform finishing second.

Pamela Tickell
BBC News, Blyth

On the Blyth and Ashington result, Ian Lavery said he was "chuffed to bits" with a big majority and a mandate from the voters.

He urged his party to be bold in government, adding: "If we do go on to win a big majority we will have a window of opportunity to deliver change and we must do that. We have got to give people hope.

"I heard from some voters who said all politicians were the same. I want you to go back to those people at the next election we promised to deliver for you and we did."

Conservative candidate Maureen Levy said the result wasn’t a surprise after coming in third behind Labour and Reform UK.

“We will be watching Ian Lavery," she said.

"I hope he lives up to his promises and can deliver the level of investment the Conservatives have brought to Blyth."

Stuart Whincup
BBC Look North

Anna Turley (pictured), who is standing for Labour in Redcar, said the early signs were it would be a "fantastic" general election for the party which was a "real testament" to Sir Keir Starmer and his team.

"That means we can really start to change the country, get the NHS back on its feet and look after people again," she told the BBC, adding: "I'm really excited about having a Labour government."

She is hoping to reclaim the seat she lost to Conservative Jacob Young.

Another swing of Conservative vote share in Reform's favour - although Reform's Ashton Muncaster isn't at the count to enjoy his second place, due to illness.

Pamela Tickell
BBC News, Blyth

The Conservative camp was stony-faced and sparse among a sea of triumphant Labour rosette-wearing supporters at the Blyth and Ashington declaration.

While the results were being read out, there was a gasp around the hall as the Conservative vote – 6,121 – was announced. It left them in third place behind Reform UK's 10,857, and the runaway win of 20,030 for Labour’s Ian Lavery.

There was a cheer as Mr Lavery was announced the winner, who said the win "was for Ronnie Campbell", the veteran former Labour MP for Blyth until 2019, and who passed away in February.

The Blyth Valley constituency was an early and emblematic win for the Conservatives in 2019, but boundary changes have made this win slightly easier for Labour.

No sooner had the winner stepped off the stage, volunteers had their heads back down counting the next set of votes.

Three more to go here in Blyth.

Ashington and Killingworth at about 00:45 BST, Hexham expected at 02:00 BST and North Northumberland at 03:15 BST.

Maureen Levy, the Conservative candidate, walked out of the hall into the entrance foyer. Her husband, Ian Levy, who is the Conservative candidate for Cramlington and Killingworth, made a beeline out the hall to be with her.

Alasdair Gill
BBC Look North, Consett

Despite the large pile of ballots next to her name, Labour's candidate for Blaydon & Consett Liz Twist is not celebrating just yet.

"I’m going to wait until all the ballots are counted, as different boxes come in, see what the outcome is," she said.

She added she would be "hugely delighted" if Labour returned to government.

"It’s the change we need and people are talking about the need for change," she said.

Sharon Hodgson is re-elected for Labour as Reform beats the Tories to second place again.

Sam Thomson
BBC Radio Newcastle

King Teare is an independent candidate standing in Newcastle North.

The PhD student and performance artist is aiming to become the UK’s first democratically-elected king, and believes in the power of performance to explore ideas and solve problems.

"I’m commentating on populist politics," he says.

"We have figures like Donald Trump and Nigel Farage with my style of politics.

"I believe we’re a bit conditioned and we should think differently and accept each other. Judge someone on their character rather than how they appear.”

What would be a good result for him tonight?

"I would like to meet the threshold to get my deposit back.

"I’m learning a lot though, so learning is what I’d like to achieve."

A long wait ahead in Thornabypublished at 00:21 British Summer Time 5 July

00:21 BST 5 July

David MacMillan
Political reporter, BBC Radio Tees

It’s a strange way to go about things, having the next five years of your life determined by one brief announcement in the middle of the night.

But that’s what the candidates standing in this year’s general election have signed up for - and they seem to enjoy it, so we might as well enjoy it too.

Here at Thornaby Pavilion two people will be sent to Westminster in the wee small hours of the morning.

Stockton West is generally regarded as the most interesting of the two seats. It’s a new constituency following boundary changes but its effective predecessor Stockton South was always regarded as a marginal. It was the kind of place people looked to tell which way the election was going.

Stockton West is likely to be much the same.

Conservative Matt Vickers won Stockton South in 2019, he hopes to return to parliament as the MP for Stockton West.

However, he faces a stern challenge from Labour’s Joe Dancey. Seven other candidates are contesting the seat.

The other seat being decided here – Stockton North – definitely will send a new MP to the House of Commons, as Labour’s Alex Cunningham has stood.

Luke Walton
Political correspondent, BBC North East and Cumbria

Judging by the body language and the early piles of votes, it seems Labour are on course to retake Tony Blair's old stomping ground of Sedgefield from the Conservatives.

The constituency has been redrawn and renamed as Newton Aycliffe & Spennymoor.

A declaration is expected around 02:00 BST.