UKIP's Daniel Thompson saw his party's vote share in Newcastle upon Tyne Central rise from 2.2% in 2010 to 14.9% this time around, pushing the Liberal Democrats' Nick Cott into fourth with 6.3%.

Labour's Chi Onwurah saw her vote share rise from 45.9% to 55% finishing 12,673 votes ahead of Simon Kitchen from the Conservatives who secured 18.9% of the votes.

Labour's grip on the North East continues as Chi Onwurah retains Newcastle upon Tyne Central.

Richard Moss
Political editor, North East & Cumbria

tweets, external: Lib Dems collapse to fourth in Newcastle East down 22% in a city they used to control. #GE2015

The Liberal Democrats suffered another heavy defeat in the North East after finishing fourth in Newcastle upon Tyne East.

Wendy Taylor saw the party's share of the votes drop from 33% in 2010 to 11% this time around. UKIP's David Robinson-Young secured 12.5% of the votes, with the Conservatives' Duncan Crute getting 17.6% and Labour's Nick Brown 49.4%.

More early success for Labour as Nick Brown, MP since 1983, is re-elected in Newcastle upon Tyne East.

Nisha Joshi
BBC Look North

tweets:, external Newcastle Central could be first Newcastle result

Nisha Joshi
BBC Look North

tweets:, external Still waiting for Newcastle East result...

Adrian Pitches
Environment correspondent, BBC North-East

tweets, external: The great divide. #NorthTyneside count to the left #Tynemouth to the right. No reflection on political leanings.

Watch as the first result of the 2015 General Election was declared with Bridget Phillipson taking 21,218 votes in the safe Labour seat of Houghton & Sunderland South, with UKIP in second place with 8,280 votes.

Sharon Barbour
BBC Look North

tweets, external: Newcastle upon Tyne East set to declare in around 5 mins

All did not go as planned in Darlington with UKIP candidate Dave Hodgson (pictured) being missed off 89 ballot papers.

Darlington Borough Council said 0.1% of the total number of papers printed had been affected at one polling station in the borough.

Image source, Dave Hodgson

The council said as soon as the issue was identified, corrected ballot papers were issued.

Mr Hodgson said serious questions needed to be answered.

Peter Harris
Look North

Counting is under way at Thornaby Pavilion for the key marginal of Stockton South.

Conservative James Wharton is defending a majority of 332, but Labour - which lost it in 2010 - is hoping to unseat him.

The party winning this constituency has gone on to form a government at every election since 1987.

BBC reporter Ed Hanson has sent in some pictures of candidates and supporters waiting for the Carlisle count to be concluded at Sands Leisure Centre.

Fergus Hewison
BBC Newcastle political reporter

tweets, external: "It's getting later. First declaration in Newcastle may not be until around 12.30 due to large turnout. #GE2015"

Counting is under way in England's largest constituency Penrith and the Border at Penrith Leisure Centre.

Duncan Leatherdale
BBC News Online

In the BBC Newcastle area, Labour secured 44.4% of the votes in the 2010 election with the Liberal Democrats second (24.9% vote share) and the Conservatives third (22.4%).

Sharon Barbour
BBC Look North

tweets:, external 3 Newcastle results now not likely before 12:30

Mark Denten
Political Correspondent, BBC North East & Cumbria

tweets, external: Early days/nights but UKIP will be pleased with performance in North East so far two out of three seats declared they finish 2nd #GE2015

Richard Moss
Political editor, North East & Cumbria

tweets:, external Sunderland declares its three seats by 11.27pm ahead of every other count. Job done on #GE2015. City council count now beginning.

Labour's Sharon Hodgson secured 20,478 of the votes in Washington & Sunderland West, 863 more than 2010 with her vote share rising from 52.5% to 55%.

UKIP's Aileen Casey came second with 7,321 votes, just 288 more than third placed Conservative Bob Dhillon.

Liberal Democrat Dominic Haney saw his vote share fall from 17.1% in 2010 to just 2.7% tonight.