The results of the Hampshire County Council elections were expected tonight but have been pushed back.

A statement from Winchester City Council said: "There was a fire alarm at 7.30pm at River Park Leisure Centre.

"Following a short evacuation, all count observers, candidates and staff are accounted for.

"We are adjourning for today and will return to continue the verification and proceed to the count of Hampshire County Council and Winchester City Council ballots tomorrow at 10am."

Josh Wright
Local Democracy Reporting Service

A former mayor of Poole has been elected to the vacant Canford Heath seat on BCP Council.

Conservative Sean Gabriel won by 41 votes over Liberal Democrat Jennie Hodges who had been hoping to win the seat which had been held by fellow party member Pete Parrish until his death last year.

Mr Gabriel, who finished fourth in the election for the three-seat ward in 2019, overturned the 642-vote gap to take the seat.

Speaking at Friday’s count, he said his election was a “massive honour” and that he was looking forward to being a councillor again.

“It’s great that the residents of Canford Heath have trusted me with their vote and I will work hard to make what is already a brilliant place to live even better,” he said.

“It’s been a very difficult year for everyone, the council included, and I’m really excited to now be involved in the work to move us forward.

“I’m sure there will still be a few bumps in the road but we need to be positive and ambitious in helping our area bounce back.”

The by-election was called following the death of former Lib Dem councillor Pete Parrish last year and had been delayed until Thursday by the pandemic.

Mr Gabriel won 1,406 votes, 41 more than second-placed Jennie Hodges, and will now represent the ward alongside Liberal Democrats Sandra Moore and Chris Matthews.

Turnout was 31.96%.

Tevye Markson
Local Democracy Reporting Service

The Green Party won a seat in east Reading by just 10 votes from Labour, who kept their strong Reading Borough Council (RBC) majority at the May 2021 local elections.

David McElroy received 1,009 votes to beat Labour candidate Andrew Hornsby-Smith, who got 999 votes – just 10 less.

Labour councillor Tony Jones had stood down from the seat after 30 years of service.

All other wards stayed with the same party as 17 councillors were elected, including three new members, with Labour now holding a 12-seat majority.

Maria Zaccaro
Local Democracy Reporting Service

So far the Conservatives retained six of their 56 seats across the county and gained one in the West End and Horton Heath division in Eastleigh.

It comes as Liberal Democrat councillor Bruce Tennent lost the West End and Horton Heath seat to Conservative candidate Steve Broomfield.

Liberal Democract councillor and former Eastleigh MP Mike Thornton – who represented the Bishopstoke and Fair Oak division – also lost his seat to independent borough councillor Louise Parker-Jones.

Meanwhile, Eastleigh Borough Council leader Keith House retained his county council seat for the Hamble division with with 2,915 votes.

The Lib Dems also retained seats in Eastleigh South and Eastleigh North.

The Conservatives have so far retained four of the five seats in the Rushmoor division but lost Aldershot North division to Labour candidate Alex Crawford.

The Tories retained seats in Aldershot South, Farnborough South, Farnborough West and Farnborough North where councillor Roz Chadd, former county council cabinet member for education, has been re-elected.

It comes as all of the 78 seats at Hampshire County Council are up for grabs as county-wide elections are held every four years.

James Bagley
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Image source, LDRS

In Slough, electors voted for candidates in 14 of the 15 wards, with Colnbrook with Poyle the exception.

There are 14 seats for grabs at the council and electors could also vote for a candidate standing for Thames Valley Crime and Police Commissioner.

Slough is not counting on Friday but is instead verifying the ballots for the local election and Police and Crime Commissioner.

This involves counting the total number of ballots cast in each election and must be completed before a count can commence. Once that’s completed, counting of all 14 wards will begin on Saturday, May 8, at the Centre in Farnham Road.

Counting will start at 0700 BST and is expected to end 12 hours later.

Image source, Claire Critchison

Early indications suggest the leader of Isle of Wight Council has lost his seat in the island's elections.

Votes are still to be confirmed but Conservative leader Dave Stewart believes he has been ousted as ward councillor for Chale, Niton and Whitwell by his Green Party rival Claire Critchison.

Mr Stewart, who has been leader for four years, said: "I think it was always close because there were only two candidates – myself and the Green candidate.

"That’s the democratic process and, genuinely, I wish well to the person who’s replaced me."

The results of the island's elections have not yet been announced while some postal votes are checked, but Mr Stewart said he did not believe it would be enough to alter the outcome.

He said, despite losing his seat, he was hopeful the Conservatives would retain control of the council.

Although elections did not take place this year for Dorset Council councillors (they happen in 2024), some town council by-elections and neighbourhood plan referendums were held.

The results were as follows:

Town council by-elections and successful candidates

Lyme Regis Town Council – Tara Dawn Webb (Turnout 37.3%)

Weymouth Town Council – Wyke Regis Ward – Becky Suzanne Blake, Labour Party (Turnout 35.4%)

Weymouth Town Council – Preston Ward – Peter Dickenson, Conservative Party (Turnout 52.7%)

Shaftesbury Town Council – West Ward – Virginia Rhiannon Edwyn-Jones, Independent (Turnout 37.7%)

Swanage Town Council – Swanage North Ward – John Michael Bishop, Conservative Party (Turnout 45.2%)

Ferndown – Ferndown Central Ward – Grant Clifford Parrott, Local Conservatives (Turnout 35.1%)

Neighbourhood Plan Referendum results:

Arne – 479 votes in favour, 36 against (Turnout 47.2%)

Blandford – 2,054 votes in favour, 394 against (Turnout 25.9%)

Chickerell – 1,006 votes in favour, 184 against (Turnout 24.7%)

Milton Abbas – 162 votes in favour, 32 against (Turnout 42.3%)

Portland – 1,653 votes in favour, 346 against (Turnout 21.5%)

Puddletown – 341 votes in favour, 45 against (Turnout 33.5%)

Shaftesbury – 1,556 votes in favour, 216 against (Turnout 26.9%)

Maria Zaccaro
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Sixteen of the 48 seats on Southampton City Council are up for grabs.

There were no huge queues outside polling stations in the city today and several residents who decided to cast their vote in person said they felt safe.

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service just outside the polling station at Central Baptist Church in the city centre, Carol Kirk-Patrick, 80, retired, said: “I think you should always use your vote.”

Voters were asked to wear a face mask, maintain social distancing, use hand sanitizer and take their own pencils.

Several Southampton residents who went to the polls today said they think the key issue in the city is crime.

Wayne Pearson, 65, a builder, from Southampton, said: “You don’t see the police, you don’t see anyone. You only get to see them when you call them out. I want to see more police patrolling the streets.”

Other residents said they also would like to see more leisure centres and facilities for families in the city as well as cleaner streets.

The count for Southampton City Council is set to begin on Friday when the votes will be verified, but they will be counted on Saturday, which is when the results are expected to be announced.

The council is currently made up of 30 Labour and 18 Conservative councillors.

Tristan Pascoe
BBC Radio Solent political reporter

The results of two by-elections to Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council are in.

The Conservatives have gained Canford Heath, and the Christchurch Independents retain Commons ward.

It doesn’t affect the political balance, as the Tory group still leads a minority administration, with 37 of 76 councillors.

The Dorset Police and Crime Commissioner result is due within the hour here at the BIC.

The counting for the Dorset police crime commissioner is underway at Redlands Community Sports Hub.

Maria Zaccaro
Local Democracy Reporting Service

The results of the Hampshire County Council elections are expected to be announced on Friday afternoon.

All of the 78 seats at the county council are up for grabs as a county-wide election takes place every four years.

Two county council divisions - Leesland & Town (Gosport) and Fareham Town – will be asked to elect two councillors due to the size of the electorate.

The county council is currently made up of 55 Conservatives, 19 Liberal Democrats, one Labour councillor, one unaffiliated independent councillor, one Basingstoke & Deane Independent Group councillor and one Community Campaign Hart councillor.

David Lynch
Local Democracy Reporting Service

Across the Oxfordshire, electors could vote for one of 63 new county councillors.

In Oxford, they could also elect two new city councillors to join the total of 48 in a new council. In north and western Oxfordshire, half of Cherwell and West Oxfordshire’s district councillors were also up for election.

The Thames Valley Police and Crime Commissioner was also up for re-election. Extra precautions were being taken at polling booths, with a one-in one-out policy and one-way system in operation at many to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Election results are not due to be announced until the weekend at the earliest. Oxford City Council will reveal its results on Saturday, May 8.

The other councils, including Oxfordshire County Council will follow with their results on Sunday, May 9. The PCC election results will be announced next Monday, May 10.

The counting for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight police crime commissioner is underway in Southampton Guildhall.

Hello and welcome to the BBC's live coverage of the election results from Berkshire, Dorset, Hampshire, the Isle of Wight and Oxfordshire.

The results will come in over the next few days, but the first ones are not expected until 17.00 BST on Friday.

We can expect results from the Isle of Wight, Rushmoor, Fareham and Hampshire County Council on Friday.