Image source, Lucinda Adams/BBC

Labour have won the new seat of Worthing West, a notional gain from the Conservatives due to boundary changes.

The seat was previously held by Sir Peter Bottomley, who took 16,750 votes (32.49%).

The new Labour MP, Beccy Cooper, won 20,519 votes (40.24%).

You can read a full breakdown of the results here.

The seat was previously held by Sally-Ann Hart, from 2019, and prior to that had been held by former home secretary Amber Rudd.

Labour has won East Worthing and Shoreham.

The seat was held by Conservative Tim Loughton, who announced he would not stand for re-election, for 27 years.

Labour candidate Tom Rutland scored 22,126 votes, 45% of the overall vote.

You can read a full breakdown of the results here.

Image source, Lucinda Adam/BBC

Nus Ghani has won the new seat of Sussex Weald for the Conservatives, with 16,758 votes (34% of the vote).

She was previously the MP for the former constituency of Wealden.

You can read the full results here.

The Lib Dems have ousted another former Cabinet minister, as Conservative Education Secretary Gillian Keegan loses her seat in Chichester.

It’s a big win. Keegan had enjoyed a majority of 19,000 in 2019.

The Lib Dems called the result early, issuing a statement before 2am saying “school’s out” for Keegan “for summer, autumn, winter and spring”.

Image source, Sophia Cobby/BBC

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan has lost her Chichester seat to the Lib Dems.

The results for candidates are as follows:

Jess Brown-Fuller, Liberal Democrats - 25,514

Gillian Keegan, Conservative - 13,368

Teresa De Santis, Reform UK - 7,859

Tom Collinge, Labour - 3,175

Tim Young, Green - 1,815

Andrew Emerson, Independent - 190

Image source, Anisa Kadri/BBC

The Lib Dems have gained Eastbourne notionally from the Conservatives following boundary changes.

The results for candidates are as follows:

Josh Babarinde, Lib Dems - 23,742

Caroline Ansell, Conservatives - 11,538

Mark Ashdown, Reform UK - 6,061

Paul Richards, Labour and Co-operative - 2,689

Mike Munson, Green - 1,421

Sophia Cobby
BBC News, Chichester

Image source, Sophia Cobby/BBC

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan is at the Chichester count at Westgate Leisure Centre.

Despite the Lib Dems claims they may have gained her seat, she appeared to be in good spirits with fellow Conservative party members.

Image source, Getty Images

Turnout has varied widely across the South East, with most constituencies reporting lower figures than 2019.

Here are the figures we have so far:

Bognor & Littlehampton - 61.93%

Ashford - 62%

Weald of Kent - 67%

Bexhill & Battle - 66%

Guildford - 68.6%

Gravesham - 59.3%

Canterbury - 66.7%

Tunbridge Wells - 69.2%

Hastings & Rye - 60.81%

East Surrey - 67.5%

East Thanet - 57.26%

Dorking & Horley - 70%

Sittingbourne & Sheppey 51.97%

Dover & Deal - 63%

Maidstone & Malling - 60.86%

Rochester & Strood - 57.5%

Chatham & Aylesford - 54.5%

Tonbridge - 69%

Esher & Walton - 74.2%

Eastbourne - 63%

Sophia Cobby
BBC News, Chichester

Image source, Sophia Cobby/BBC

The Chichester count at Westgate Leisure Centre has been paused due to a fire alarm.

Counters have gathered at a muster point in the car park.

Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, who could lose the seat according to the Lib Dems, is yet to arrive.

Jadzia Samuel
BBC News, Lewes

Image source, George Carden/BBC

Lewes Liberal Democrat candidate James MacCleary says he is feeling quietly optimistic about his chances in Lewes.

But MacClearey stressed he will not be “counting his chickens” before the ballots are counted.

Conservative candidate Maria Caulfield has held this seat since 2015.

In the last general election, there were fewer than 3,000 votes between Ms Caulfield and the Lib Dem candidate.

In the 2023 local elections, all Conservative councillors lost their seats.

Lewes District Council is currently run by a Green-Labour coalition.

Josie Hannett
BBC News, Brighton

Image source, Josie Hannett/BBC

Caroline Lucas, former leader of the Green Party, who held the Brighton Pavilion seat for the last 14 years, has just arrived at the Brighton count.

She said it had been a “fantastic campaign” for the Green Party, but it felt strange to be stepping back from politics.

She said the people of Brighton had “taken Sian Berry into their hearts” and she expected the Greens would hold their seat.

After this election, Ms Lucas said she was looking forward to laying down in a dark room and enjoying the summer.

Georgia Poncia
BBC News, Burgess Hill

Image source, Georgia Poncia/BBC

Counters at the Triangle Leisure Centre in Burgess Hill - which is hosting the count for both the Tory stronghold of Mid Sussex and the new constituency of East Grinstead and Uckfield - have gone on a break.

It means the 03:00 BST expected declaration time is likely to be delayed.

In fact, things have slowed down so much that a cat wandering into the lobby has caused a flurry of excitement.

Lucinda Adam
BBC Sussex, political reporter

Image source, BBC/Lucinda Adam

At this double count at Worthing Leisure Centre, votes are being verified.

Counting for East Worthing and Shoreham and Worthing West is expected to get under way about now.

These Worthing seats are both interesting because the town of Worthing has returned a Conservative at every general election since 1841.

For the first time in generations, the outcome isn't as predictable as usual.

The exit poll predicts East Worthing and Shoreham will go to Labour.

This seat has been held by Conservative Tim Loughton for the past 27 years, but he announced in May that he would not seek re-election.

The result in Worthing West though is too close to call.

This has been the seat of the Father of the House of Commons, 79-year-old Sir Peter Bottomley, who has been an MP for 49 years.

If you're in Sussex, and eager enough to still be up and following the coverage on election night, we'd love to hear from you.

Are you nervous or hotly anticipating results? Do you plan to be up until the early hours to find out who will take your local seat? And just how many cups of coffee in are you?

WhatsApp, external us on 08081 002250.

Image source, Andrew Matthews/PA Wire

The Lib Dems have told the BBC's political editor Chris Mason they think they've beaten the Education Secretary Gillian Keegan in Chichester.

A spokesman for the party also predicted the loss earlier.

“Chichester is going Lib Dem-orange, as Gillian Keegan becomes the first Cabinet minister of the night to lose her seat," he said.

“The Conservatives have let down the people of Chichester for too long. This seat has been Conservative for 100 years and a win here for the Liberal Democrats is an extraordinary achievement which has unseated the Education Secretary."

Earlier tonight, the exit poll for BBC, ITV and Sky predicted the seat could be a possible Tory hold, with a likelihood of 85%.

Sam Dixon-French
BBC Sussex, Horsham

Image source, Sam Dixon-French/BBC

Verification is under way here at the Bridge Leisure Centre for the counts for two constituencies - Horsham and Arundel and South Downs.

John Milne, the Lib Dem candidate for Horsham, tells me he expects it will be a close battle for the constituency. Previously it’s been a Tory safe seat since 1880.

James Field, the Labour candidate is keeping tight-lipped, while Jeremy Quin, who’s fighting to be re-elected, is yet to arrive.

One Tory tells me in 2019 he had a full night’s sleep and good breakfast before arriving for the results at 07:00 BST.

The mood here is that Arundel and South Downs will stay as a Conservative hold. The big question is by how much.

Georgia Poncia
BBC South East, Burgess Hill

Image source, BBC/Georgia Poncia

The Triangle Leisure Centre is hosting the count for both Mid Sussex - a Conservative stronghold - and the new constituency of East Grinstead and Uckfield.

The former Mid Sussex MP Mims Davies has been selected to stand in the new East Grinstead and Uckfield seat for the Conservatives.

The sports hall has been divided into two to accommodate both counts.