Blyth & Ashington's newly-elected MP Ian Lavery dedicated his win to former Blyth Valley MP Ronnie Campbell, who died earlier this year.

Mr Campbell represented the constituency from 1987 until his retirement in 2019.

Speaking at the count in Blyth, Labour's Lavery said: "This is for Ronnie Campbell.”

He added: "The Labour government will inherit a mess. You can’t get a GP appointment. You can’t get an ambulance when you’re sick.

“We’ll put that right”

Reform UK has cut through, initial results suggestpublished at 00:11 British Summer Time 5 July

00:11 BST 5 July

Chris Mason
Political editor

A couple of observations from that first result in Houghton and Sunderland South.

Firstly, unlike the very careful caveating from other Labour folk, Bridget Phillipson delivered not just a local victory speech, as the first MP elected into the new parliament, but what was pretty much a national victory speech for Labour too.

And then there is the stand out set of numbers in the first two results for Reform UK - beating the Conservatives easily, in safe Labour territory.

Reform UK has cut through, the evidence suggests so far - and is a big part of the story tonight.

The next result is in - Labour's Lewis Atkinson has won Sunderland Central with 16,852 votes.

Once again, Reform beat the Tories to come in second place.

The third result is in and it's another win for Labour, with Lewis Atkinson holding the seat for the party.

Gerry Jackson
BBC Look North, Sunderland

Bridget Phillipson, newly-elected MP for Houghton & Sunderland South, celebrates her win for Labour tonight.

The shadow education secretary's seat was the first declaration in the UK tonight.

Watch for Teesside and Durham resultspublished at 23:56 British Summer Time 4 July

23:56 BST 4 July

Richard Moss
Political editor, North East & Cumbria

Image source, Getty Images

It’ll be after midnight before the first key Conservative constituency - Darlington - is declared. It's part of the Tees Valley area that backed Conservative mayor Lord Houchen in May’s mayoral election, but Labour will be looking to take all its parliamentary seats.

Apart from Darlington, targets include former cabinet minister Simon Clarke in Middlesbrough South & East Cleveland, Levelling Up minister Jacob Young in Redcar, and Conservative deputy chairman Matt Vickers in Stockton West.

Labour won Hartlepool in 2019, but lost it to the Tories in a 2021 by-election. It’s another seat Labour will want back, but Reform UK are also likely to put up a strong showing.

County Durham is another area where Labour will be looking to dominate again, retaking Bishop Auckland and Newton Aycliffe & Spennymoor - which largely covers Tony Blair’s old Sedgefield seat. The other Conservative 2019 gain there - North West Durham - no longer exists.

Northumberland though is where Labour will be looking to push into previously uncharted territory. Hexham has been Conservative for 100 years, and has never been won by Labour, but the party has thrown the kitchen sink at it. They also have eyes on North Northumberland, and former Conservative cabinet minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan. Both results may come at about 03:00 BST.

Jonny Manning
BBC News, Spennymoor

Counting is under way at Spennymoor Leisure Centre in County Durham.

Three constituencies will be declared: Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor, the City of Durham and Bishop Auckland.

Labour is predicted to win all three seats here, taking the constituencies back from the Conservatives.

But despite the polls, Conservative and Reform UK rosettes can be seen around the room as the candidates wait to see if they have defied the odds.

Image source, PA Media

In her victory speech, Houghton & Sunderland South MP Bridget Phillipson said people had "chosen change".

The Labour MP, who boosted her majority in the seat, said "our best days lie ahead of us", adding Labour would be a government "of service", "with purpose", and "powered by hope".

She will become the education secretary if Labour wins the general election.

The second result of the night is in - and Labour's Ian Lavery has won in Blyth and Ashington in Northumberland.

It's another win for Labour as they hold Blyth & Ashington, with party veteran Ian Lavery elected.

Pamela Tickell
BBC News, Blyth

Funny moment when Independent candidate for North Northumberland Georgina Hill jokingly called out Reform UK candidate for Blyth & Ashington Mark Peart for having the same colour rosette as her.

"I got mine first," she laughed.

Image source, PA

Houghton & Sunderland South MP Bridget Phillipson - who is on course to become Labour's education secretary - boosted her share of the votes as she held the seat for Labour.

Her 18,847 votes were 47.1% of the total, up from 40.4% last time out.

Reform UK's Sam Woods-Brass came second with 11,688 votes or 29.1%, with the Conservatives' Chris Burnicle third with 5,514 or 13.8%.

The first result is in and it's a win for Labour, who have held Houghton & Sunderland South.

Martin Lindsay
BBC Radio Newcastle

Two MPs will be elected here on South Tyneside in the early hours. One is for a newly named constituency - Jarrow and Gateshead East - and the other is South Shields, which has also had a boundary shift.

Both Jarrow and South Shields have been Labour since 1935 and the candidates who won in 2019 - Kate Osborne and Emma Lewell-Buck - are both expected to be re-elected.

The counting is taking place at Temple Park Leisure Centre in South Shields.

I’ve been here for an election count before and it got very hot and clammy, so not the ideal conditions for potentially nervous or stressed candidates.

There could be a few sweaty handshakes on stage later on.

There are cameras at counts across the North East - you can watch footage on the link below.

Louise Hobson
BBC Radio Tees

Postal votes are being verified at Mill House Leisure Centre in Hartlepool.

Conservative Jill Mortimer is hoping to keep her seat in the constituency after being elected in the 2021 by-election, where she defeated her Labour rival Paul Williams by 6,940 votes.

Before 2021, Hartlepool had always been a Labour seat, going back to 1974.

There's eight candidates in the race for Hartlepool, representing Conservatives, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Green, Reform, Workers Party of Britain, Heritage as well as an Independent.

Results are expected from Hartlepool between 04:00 and 05:00 BST.

Pamela Tickell
BBC News, Blyth

This large sports hall in Blyth is full to the brim with counting volunteers and the media.

Four seats will be declared with 257 ballot boxes set to be delivered from across Northumberland, so we’re in for a long night.

There is a crowd of people at the front door, wearing leisure centre uniforms, who are waiting for boxes to arrive.

Suddenly there is a shout of "get out the way, a box is coming through" and you’ll be pushed to the walls of the corridor, only to see a young leisure centre worker running their box through to the counting hall.

Northumberland County Council estimates it will be one of the first, if not the first to declare, telling reporters and candidates they expect the first result to be announced at 23:15 BST.

There's particular interest in the rural seats of North Northumberland and Hexham, which have long been held by the Conservatives and have found themselves the target of Labour.

The heat from the large number of people, and the studio lights from various TV crews, has made a warm summer night even warmer.

People are not going for the hot tea and coffee stations and are sticking to the water for now.

Duncan Leatherdale
BBC News Online

The first big question is who will declare a result first.

It's traditionally been a race between Sunderland and Newcastle but Blyth is in the mix this time around.

In Blyth, Northumberland County Council is telling reporters and candidates they expect the first result to be announced at 23:15 BST.

We have been told the first result in Sunderland, Houghton and Sunderland South, is expected at about 23:35.

No word yet from Newcastle but we will keep you posted.