Summary

  • General and local election updates from 7 and 8 May

Live Reporting

Mark Bulstrode and Martin Barber

  1. Waveney

    In the Waveney constituency on the east coast, the doors are shut at the polls and the votes are being counted.

    Waveney count

    Votes in the constituency were extremely close in 2010, with Conservatives holding a 40.2% share of the vote, with Labour on 38.7%.

  2. David Keller
    BBC News Online

    If you're like me, the polling station you voted at was nothing out of the ordinary. But in the East, some lucky people have been able to cast their votes in some rather unusual settings.

    Polling station in Old School House, Winwick

    Take the village of Winwick in Northamptonshire, for example. People had the chance to vote in the hallway of June Thomas' home - one of the smallest polling stations in the UK.

    In Little Bardfield, Essex, votes were cast in the cricket pavilion and at Roudham in Norfolk, people were able to cross their boxes before heading for a wee dram at The English Whiskey distillery.

  3. To ensure we bring you the results as soon as they come in, we have to use some rather technical broadcasting equipment.

    Sophie Sulehria, from BBC Three Counties, tweeted this picture of her getting ready earlier.

    Broadcasting equipment

  4. Chelmsford and Peterborough

    David Keller
    BBC News Online

    Two of the East's cathedral cities are next in the running order, expected to announce their results at just after 02:00.

    PeterboroughJulian Dowse

    Chelmsford is regarded as a Conservative stronghold, with Simon Burns holding the seat since 1987. But with the rise in UKIP support across Essex, could that be about to change?

    Peterborough, one of the fastest growing and most culturally diverse cities in the UK, is a hotly-contested seat, with Labour and UKIP expected to clip at the heels of its Tory MP of 10 years, Stewart Jackson.

  5. Andrew Sinclair
    Political correspondent, BBC East

    The polls have closed across the East. Ahead lies a long and unpredictable night.

    Polling station in Leighton Buzzard

    Long because we are a rural area and it takes time to get all the ballot boxes in and then they'll have to separate the local and Westminster papers and verify them before they can even begin counting.

    Unpredictable because there has been quite a battle going on in at least a dozen seats which could change hands.

  6. First counts to declare

    The first constituencies expected to declare their results are Hertford and Stortford and Castle Point at just before 02:00.

    Hadleigh Castle

    The former has been Conservative since it was established in 1983, with Mark Prisk winning 53.8% of the vote in 2010.

    Castle Point, situated on the south Essex coast, was also blue at the last general election with Rebecca Harris winning 44% of the vote for the Tories.

  7. David Keller
    BBC News Online

    For those without a TV, here's a photo of the exit poll showing the Conservatives as the largest party, but short of a majority.

    Election 2015 exit poll

    It also says Labour have suffered greatly in Scotland, with the SNP expected to take almost all of the country's seats. Only time will tell what the picture is in the east of England.

  8. You can watch live coverage of the election with David Dimbleby through the night on the BBC News Channel, with political correspondent Andrew Sinclair reflecting the picture here in the East.

    David Dimbleby

    You can also tune in to your local BBC radio station.

    And for those who can't stay awake, from 06:30 Katherine Nash will present extended breakfast bulletins on BBC One, with further analysis in a special half-hour programme from 09:00. For more information, read here.

  9. David Keller
    BBC News Online

    A long queue was spotted earlier at the Jessopp Road polling station in Norwich.

    Queues at Jessopp Road polling station, Norwich

    BBC Look East political correspondent Andrew Sinclair said some people had waited in it for up to an hour.

    If you're suffering a similar wait, don't panic. Rules state that if you were in the queue by 22:00, you are still eligible to vote.

  11. Election live coverage

    David Keller
    BBC News Online

    The time is 22:00 and your time to vote in the 2015 general and local elections is up.

    Polling station in Ely, Cambridgeshire

    With polling station doors across the East being closed, why not sit back and join us through the night as we bring you results from where you live.

    You can send us your views and pictures by emailing look.east@bbc.co.uk.