Tom Blenkinsop keeps Middlesbrough South and Cleveland East for Labour.

Labour's Ian Mearns saw his majority in Gateshead rise by 2,235 to 14,784, 56.8% of the votes.

UKIP's John Tennant surged into second with 17.8%, a rise of 14.9% since 2010.

Frank Hindle's Liberal Democrat share dropped from 21.3% to 6.8% finishing fourth behind Conservative Tom Smith.

Labour's David Anderson saw a near 50% rise in his majority in Blaydon from 9,117 to 14,227, although his share of the vote actually dropped by 0.5% to 49.6%.

UKIP's Mark Bell finished second with 17.5%, just 25 votes ahead of the Conservatives' Alison Griffiths.

Fourth-placed Jonathan Wallace saw his Liberal Democrat share drop from 29.3% to 12.2%.

Richard Moss
Political editor, North East & Cumbria

After a little sleep, woken up to news Labour must have feared - failing by some distance to win in key targets Carlisle and Stockton South.

Stockton South result a triumph for James Wharton. To turn 332 into 5,000 majority with 8% rise in share is beyond even his hopes.

Crumbs of comfort for Labour. Strong result for Anna Turley taking back Redcar, and just saw off UKIP surge in Hartlepool.

Final PM visit to Carlisle and months of work pay off for John Stevenson almost trebling majority in seat Labour seemed confident of taking.

Catherine Lee
BBC News

Labour has won 23 out of the 28 council seats up for grabs in Newcastle, holding on to control of the council.

Four went to the Liberal Democrats, and one to an Independent.

In Sunderland Labour took 24 of the 25 seats, and in Darlington 29 out of 33.

Results are still due for Gateshead, North Tyneside, and South Tyneside councils.

On Teesside there are elections to Hartlepool, Middlesbrough, Redcar and Cleveland, and Stockton councils, and there is also an election in Middlesbrough for an elected mayor.

In Cumbria council seats in Allerdale, Barrow in Furness, Carlisle, Copeland, Eden and South Lakeland are up for grabs, with an elected mayor ballot in Copeland.

It was a colourful affair at the count in Redcar and Cleveland Leisure and Community Heart with the son of Martin Brampton, the Green party candidate in Middlesbrough South and Cleveland East sporting suitable coloured hair.

Rory Stewart has retained Penrith and the Border for the Conservatives.

Alex Cunningham, who held on to Stockton North for Labour, said: "Everybody has to work together to heal this country.

"If we're in a situation where we're in opposition I aim to dedicate my life to trying to protect the most vulnerable in our society.

"We've seen the poor and the underprivileged suffer under the Conservatives, and we need to do is make sure we protect them in the future."

Labour's Helen Goodman saw her majority in Bishop Auckland drop from 5,218 to 3,508, although her share of the vote actually rose by 2.4% to 41.4%.

Christopher Adams saw his Conservative share rise from 26.3% to 32.5% while UKIP's Rhys Burris had a rise from 2.7% to 17.8% to finish third.

Liberal Democrat Stephen White saw his share drop from 22.3% to 4.4%.

Labour's Alex Cunningham saw his majority in Stockton North rise by 1,691 to 8,367, 49.1% of the votes.

UKIP's Mandy Boylett saw her share rise from 3.9% to 19.2% to finish third behind Conservative Christopher Daniels who secured 28%.

Liberal Democrat Anthony Sycamore saw his share drop from 16.1% to 2.2%,

Julie Donaldson says: "More than seven hours after the ballots closed fatigue has started to set in, especially at the count in Redcar where they are still waiting for boxes to arrive from Middlesbrough.

"The Redcar constituency was declared at 03.30. Counters have left. The Middlesbrough South & Cleveland East count is still waiting for missing boxes to arrive. "

Labour's Jamie Reed has held Copeland.

Sue Hayman has been elected MP for Workington keeping the seat for Labour - Cumbria's first female MP.

Alan Campbell has held Tynemouth for Labour.

Conservative John Stevenson saw his 2010 majority of 853 in Carlisle treble to 2,774 with a 44.3% share.

Labour's Lee Sherriff secured 37.8% to finish second while UKIP's Fiona Mills saw her share rise from 2.3% to 12.4% to finish third.

Liberal Democrat Loraine Birchall saw her share fall from 15.6% to 2.6%.

Labour's Mary Glindon keeps Tyneside North.

BBC Look North's Adrian Pitches tweets, external: #Sunderland declared 6 hours ago! Still waiting for #Tynemouth and #NorthTyneside Feels imminent though

Mark Denten
Political Correspondent, BBC North East & Cumbria

Newly elected Labour MP for Redcar Anna Turley says it's too early to make decisions on Ed Miliband's leadership.

She is the latest in a line of female MPs for Redcar with Mo Mowlam and Vera Baird her predecessors.

Duncan Leatherdale
BBC News Online

Labour's Anna Turley seized Redcar from Liberal Democrat Josh Mason by 17,946 votes to 7,558, a majority of 10,338.

She had 43.9% of the votes, Mr Mason 18.5%, just 42 votes and 0.1% more than UKIP's Christopher Gallacher.

Labour's Phil Wilson saw his majority in Sedgefield drop 1,853 votes to 6,843 although his share rose from 45.1% to 47.2%.

Scott Wood came second for the Conservatives with 29.5% and UKIP's John Leathley third with 16.6%.

Fourth-placed Liberal Democrat Stephen Glenn saw his share drop from 20% in 2010 to 3.5%.