James Fanning
Reporter, BBC WM

Wolverhampton North East MP Emma Reynolds and South East, MP Pat McFadden, are at Aldersley Leisure Village cheering on the Labour councillors

Ben Godfrey
BBC Midlands Today

The scene is set for the election results in Dudley.

The cameras tell the story, it’s a key marginal currently under no overall control.

UKIP’s Bill Etheridge told me they expect to lose a significant amount of seats in Dudley and that’s come true as he lost his Sedgley seat.

it's significant because UKIP has formed alliances with both Labour and Conservatives to lead the council in recent years.

BBC West Midlands's Political editor Patrick Burns is here and will be live on BBC One throughout the night.

Stephanie Barnard
BBC News

Asha Mattu, wife of former Wolverhampton mayor Elias, successfully gained the Graisley seat.

Elias Mattu died earlier this year at the age of 59 following an illness. He'd been councillor for Graisley for almost 18 years.

Image source, Wolverhampton City Council

Laura Francis
Broadcast Journalist, BBC WM

Overall turnout in Walsall is 29%.

Laura Francis
Broadcast Journalist, BBC WM

Here in Walsall I'm hearing from party leaders that turn out is very low.

Conservative Mike Bird, says that one of the wards, Willenhall South had a turnout of just 13.5% by 8pm but that remains to be seen in the final results.

Meanwhile, Conservatives have gained both UKIP seats and taken two from Labour.

Wendy Morton, Conservative MP for Aldridge-Brownhills, says its too close to call.

Labour holds onto the council - it would have only lost overall control if it had lost all 12 of the seats it was defending.

Patrick Burns
Political editor, Midlands

UKIP are the big losers so far tonight.

Bill Etheridge MEP has lost his seat on Dudley Council.

He was defending his Sedgley seat.

James Pearson
Political reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Some wildly different turnouts in Worcester’s wards. Fifty six per cent in Battenhall where the Greens are hoping to take the seat off the Conservative mayor.

Yet in Warndon - where two councillors will be elected tonight - turnout was only 23%.

Turnout also higher than usual in Gorse Hill at 33%, where Tories sense they may be in with a shout with the departure of the long-serving Labour councillor.

Labour have held onto Cannock Chase, external with a slim majority of just one seat.

Simon Gilbert
Political Reporter, BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

The Tories losing just two seats in Rugby would mean they were no longer in overall control - but they would still be the biggest party.

The Labour Party is the official opposition, with nine seats. But the Liberal Democrats have eight seats, and it would not take too much to change for them to become the second biggest party.

Another interesting element is that the two independent seats in Rugby are also up for grabs, and both sitting councillors have chosen not to defend them.

That means the wards Hillmorton; and Wolston and the Lawfords will definitely change hands by the end of the election count.

James Fanning
Reporter, BBC WM

Asha Mattu, widow of former Mayor of Wolverhampton, Elias Mattu, is running for his seat.

Mrs Mattu supported her husband for 18 years whilst he was Labour councillor for the Graiseley Ward.

He died in February following an illness.

Simon Gilbert
Political Reporter, BBC Coventry & Warwickshire

In Nuneaton and Bedworth it would have taken a huge nine seat swing to the Conservatives for it to change hands, as Labour defended 13 seats.

As it stands, Labour were left short of a majority by one seat.

Half the seats on the council were up for election.

Conservatives won 10 out of the 17 seats in Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, seven of which they took from Labour.

Patrick Burns
Political editor, Midlands

The big question is what happens to the UKIP vote here? This was a significant strong hold last time it was contested.

UKIP were riding high but tonight they are defending seven of those seats. The party tell me UKIP are braced for significant losses.

UKIP drew a lot of their support from Labour voters but they won't necessarily go back to where they came from.

James Pearson
Political reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

While Wyre Forest District Council has had an interesting electoral history (council and MP were both Health Concern in the noughties) these days Wyre Forest is solidly Tory.

Though the Conservatives are defending 8 of the 11 seats this time round, the political makeup is unlikely to change.

The major issue the Tories will be hammered over will be the threat to the green belt, particularly to the east and south of Kidderminster.

The council estimates 2,500 homes need to be built on it in the coming decades, though controversially the draft preferred option for where these houses could go will only come out after May’s elections.

The gradual decline of Kidderminster town centre also comes up: high numbers of empty shop units, controversial plans to close a council hub in the town hall are just some spark points.

Rob Mayor
Political reporter, BBC WM

Sandwell is a virtual one party state where all but five of 72 seats are Labour. Four of five independents were also elected as Labour councillors in 2014.

Anything but a Labour clean sweep would be a surprise though the party has spent the year defending its conduct after a series of code of conduct breaches by councillors.

Electing in thirds, you will perhaps hear the cheers from the opposition parties if they make any gains whatsoever.

The latest breaking news, reaction and analysis from the West Midlands as the results of the 2018 council elections are announced.

James Pearson
Political reporter, BBC Hereford & Worcester

Worcester City Council is almost certain to see a change in control, even if no wards change colour.

After years of flipping between red and blue, last May the parties (Con 17, Lab 16, Green 2) agreed to share power in a new committee system.

But Tory councillors have been resentful that Greens too often side with Labour on key issues such as council tax and on who to elect as council leader.

Of the 13 seats up for grabs, most are pretty safe bets for the incumbent party. Exceptions are the city centre ward of Cathedral, which the Conservatives are hoping to take off Labour, the leafy suburb of Battenhall where the Conservative mayor is hoping to hold on against the Greens. Polling for the national Labour party has also suggested they may also have a chance on the outskirts of the city in Warndon Parish North, where residents are increasingly commuters.

Key issues

In terms of key issues, health will be key. The local hospital, the Worcestershire Royal, has been in special measures for more than two years and its A&E has some of the worst waiting times in the country.

It may not be a city council function but traffic and congestion is also being taken on by parties. Both Labour and the Greens are proposing measures such as banning HGVs from parts of the city centre and promising action on air pollution. Both parties are pushing for more housing in the city centre, above shops. The Conservatives will hope a principled stance against an increase in council tax this year will go down well.

Rob Mayor
Political reporter, BBC WM

In Wolverhampton, Labour's domination on a council which elects in thirds means the party could emerge with overall control even if it suffered total meltdown at the ballot box.

The Conservatives will be cheered by even the smallest gains whilst UKIP’s only councillor is retiring, leaving their prospects looking bleak.

Patrick Burns
Political editor, Midlands

Perhaps the man with most at stake in the local elections and who's not even standing is Andy Street.

Image source, Getty Images

The West Midlands metro mayor has five Labour council leaders on his combined authority board, and just two fellow Conservatives.

So, the biggest test of opinion since the 2015 General Election. And again, maybe, we should expect the unexpected.