Labour's MP for Sunderland Central Julie Elliott said: "The result is clear, people want representatives that stand up for working people and their families."

Labour's Sharon Hodgson has retained the Washington and Sunderland West seat.

Mark Denten
Political Correspondent, BBC North East & Cumbria

tweets, external: Second lost deposit of the night for the Lib Dems in Sunderland Central #GE2015

Labour's Julie Elliott almost doubled her majority in Sunderland Central from 6,725 in 2010 to 11,179 this time around, her 20,959 votes representing 50.2% of the share.

Jeffrey Townsend came second for the Conservatives with 9,780 votes closely followed by Bryan Foster from UKIP with 7,997.

Another poor showing for the Liberal Democrats with Adrian Page coming second to last with just 2.6% of the vote share.

Another success for Labour as Julie Elliott retains the Sunderland Central seat.

Labour's Bridget Phillipson has given her thanks to all those who supported her as she was re-elected MP for Houghton and Sunderland South.

She said: "It is a privilege to have been re-elected to serve.

Image source, PA

"People across Sunderland have renewed their confidence in me and more importantly their trust in Labour."

Mark Denten
Political Correspondent, BBC North East & Cumbria

tweets:, external Lib Dems lose deposit in Houghton and Sunderland South #GE2015

Richard Moss
Political editor, North East & Cumbria

Labour majority in Houghton and Sunderland South up from 10,990 in 2010 to 12,938 in 2015. Now over UKIP not Conservative.

Good result for Labour in Houghton, but also for UKIP. Nigel Farage was aiming for at least second in all North East seats. One down.

Labour's Bridget Phillipson secured 21,218 votes, 55.1% of the share and a majority of 12,938 over second placed Richard Elvin of the UK Independence Party (8,280).

The Conservatives' Stewart Hay came third with 7,105.

The first result of the 2015 election is in and for the sixth time running counters in Sunderland have provided the first declaration.

Labour's Bridget Phillipson has retained the Houghton and Sunderland South seat.

Richard Moss
Political editor, North East & Cumbria

One to two minutes away in #Sunderland.

BBC reporters are out and about in the region ready for the counts to be completed.

Kristie Kinghorn is at Sunderland Tennis Centre which is a hive of activity as they are expected to declare the first result in the country with the Houghton and Sunderland South votes expected before 23:00.

Meanwhile reporter Amy Lea has set up shop at the count in Rainton Meadows, external from where she will be reporting the Easington result for BBC Tees.

Lisa McCormick is ready for action at the count in Thornaby and said her picture shows the "calm before the storm", external.

Chris Conway
BBC Newcastle

They are super keen in Sunderland, here is a video of them running with the ballot boxes, external, mind how you go.

Richard Moss
Political editor, North East & Cumbria

Just arrived at #Sunderland #GE2015 count. Very showbiz here. Fiona Bruce and Eamon Holmes - and me of course.

Nisha Joshi
BBC Look North

The count is under way at Sport Central in Newcastle with organisers hoping to be the second quickest in the country to declare their first result after their near neighbours Sunderland.

They hope to have their first results between 23:30 and midnight.

Richard Moss
Political editor, North East & Cumbria

In North East & Cumbria exit poll, external - if right - would see Lib Dems lose Redcar, Berwick. Conservatives would hold Stockton S, Carlisle.

Exit poll would also make Middlesbrough South tight but the night is young and local variations will be part of #GE2015 story.

Megan Paterson
BBC News

The count is underway in Kendal (pictured) with 120 counters beginning verification of some postal votes.

The last ballot box is due on floor at 23:00.

And Jim Knight reports the first box of votes to be counted has arrived in the hall in Carlisle

Catherine Lee
BBC News

Though the race for Number 10 is the main event, there is also another competition going on tonight, namely who will declare their results first?

Image source, PA

For the past five general elections the counting team at Sunderland has been the first to declare, with a result less than an hour after polls close.

This year near neighbour Newcastle is aiming to come hot on its heels after moving the count to a bigger venue.

A slightly different Tyne Wear derby.

Fiona Bruce
Presenter

The first ballot box arrived at the Sunderland count just two minutes after voting closed at 22:02.

The Sunderland counters hope to declare their first result at 22:40, three minutes faster than their previous record.

Catherine Lee
BBC News

Although it's far from exact we do have a timetable of when we hope election results will be declared tonight.

Image source, Getty Images

We expect 31 of the 35 constituencies in the North East and Cumbria to be declared before 04:30, with results for Berwick-Upon-Tweed, Blyth Valley, Hexham and Wansbeck due tomorrow lunchtime.

The results from the Sunderland count could be with us before 23:00 with Houghton and Sunderland South expected to be the first constituency to be declared.

We shall wait and see.