Image source, Somerset Liberal Democrats

A former Liberal Democrat MP who lost her parliamentary seat in 2015 has won a seat on Somerset County Council.

Tessa Munt, who was the MP for Wells and has just ousted Conservative council leader John Osmon, says she thinks the Lib Dems are "in full-on bounce back".

She tells BBC Radio 4 she thinks there's a good chance 100% of the population will be unhappy with the Brexit negotiations, regardless of whether they supported Leave or Remain.

Ms Munt adds that there's a very good case for having the Lib Dems "forming some form of opposition" to ask the right questions.

The West of England Combined Authority, working with the new Metro Mayor, will receive the following powers: 

• Control of a new additional £30 million a year funding allocation over 30 years, to be invested in the West of England Single Investment Fund, to boost growth. 
• Responsibility for the 19+ Adult Education Budget, which will be devolved from academic year 2018/19. 
• Joint responsibility with the government to co-design the new National Work and Health Programme designed to focus on those with a health condition or disability and the very long term unemployed.
• The combined authority will also bring forward a proposal to pilot more intensive support for those furthest from the labour market. 

Image source, Somerset County Council

The final results are still being counted but it's clear that the Conservative Party have retained hold of Somerset County Council. More soon...

Rachel Smith has won a seat at Gloucestershire County Council for the Green Party.

The new directly elected West of England Mayor will exercise the following powers and functions devolved from central government:

• Responsibility for a consolidated, devolved local transport budget, with a multi-year settlement.
• The ability to franchise bus services, subject to necessary legislation and local consultation, which will support the Combined Authority’s delivery of smart and integrated ticketing. 
• Responsibility for a new Key Route Network of local authority roads that will be managed and maintained by the Combined Authority on behalf of the Mayor. 
• Powers over strategic planning, including to adopt a statutory spatial development strategy that will act as the framework for managing planning across the West of England region. 

Here's the picture from the Cheltenham count this evening - so far 40 wards across the county have been declared, with 13 to go.

Although there have been a few upsets, the Conservatives have held on to the most seats so far.

Liberal Democrat, Tessa Munt has won the Wells seat from the Conservatives.

The result was announced after one recount.

We have it confirmed, ex-Lib Dem MP has won the Wells seat - causing an upset to the Conservatives.

The seat was held by John Osman, who was the leader of Somerset County Council.

We're still trying to piece together what's happening out there - but there are early signs it's not going well for the Westcountry's Liberal Democrats. 

Image source, PA

The new metro mayor is the chair of The West of England Combined Authority, which is made up of the three local authorities of Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire. 

The combined authority has agreed a devolution deal with the government which means a range of powers and responsibilities will be handed over to the new mayor allowing them to make strategic decisions across the whole region.

Their main responsibility will be to decide their region's economic strategy, and they will be given powers over transport and housing - as well as £30m a year to spend on infrastructure.

The polls closed at 10pm, and we're expecting the result to be announced some time in the early hours.

Conservative John Osman currently holds this seat, but is there going to be an upset for his party?

It's looking tense in Wells this evening.