The latest updates on the 2019 local elections in Cambridgeshire, Essex, Norfolk and Suffolk
The Liberal Democrats unexpectedly win Chelmsford from the Tories, and North Norfolk from No Overall Control
Conservatives lose Basildon, Southend, St Albans, Tendring and Peterborough to No Overall Control
The Tories also fail to take one of their target councils, Colchester, where group leader Darius Laws lost his seat to the Greens
Conservatives hold Epping Forest, Castle Point, Rochford, Braintree, Maldon and Brentwood
Labour hold Ipswich, Harlow and Cambridge
Independents make gains in Thurrock, which remains in No Overall Control
Colchester Borough Council, external remains in no overall control.
The Lib Dems run the council in a coalition with Labour,
Of the 19 seats up for for grabs, the Lib Dems lost to the Green Party in Castle ward and Labour in both New Town and Christchurch.
The Lib Dems did, however, take Wivenhoe from Labour.
The Conservatives last won a majority in 1984.
Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent
The Conservatives have taken control of Harlow District Council , externalfrom Labour.
Labour held onto just one of the seven seats it was contesting.
Council leader Mark Ingall has lost his seat.
Image source, GoogleSouthend-on-Sea Borough Council, external, a unitary authority, remains in no overall control
Of the 17 seats up for election, the Conservatives gained two seats from Independent candidates in Belfairs and Shoeburyness.
The Conservatives lost control in 2019 - losing seats to Labour, the Lib Dems and independents.
Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent
Counting proper is now under way in Harlow and the contest is said to be very close in several seats.
Labour currently runs the council but a very good night for the Tories could see them take it.
In fact, the first ward has already been declared and it's a win for the Conservatives, taking the seat from Labour.
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Image source, GoogleSouthend-on-Sea Borough Council, external is a unitary authority which looks after all the local council services, such as schools, road maintenance, bin collections, public housing and social care.
Party in power: No overall control
Seats up for election: 17
Seats on council: 51
The Conservatives lost control in 2019 - losing seats to Labour, the Lib Dems and independents.
The returning officer has told everyone at the Harlow count that the verification - counting the number of ballot papers - is complete.
The votes now being counted are in the 11 wards for the Harlow Council election and the three Harlow divisions in the Essex County Council election.
The counting of votes for the Fire, Police & Crime Commissioner for Essex will take place on Saturday.
Turnout for this election is just over 32%, the officer said.
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Colchester's Charter Hall is a "hive of activity" as counting takes place for Colchester Borough Council, external, Essex County Council, external and the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex.
Results here are expected at about 04:30 BST.
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Counting is under way in Southend with the first results expected shortly.
The council has announced that turnout was 33.74% which is 2% higher than the 2019 local elections.
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We're not expecting the result from the Epping Forest count until Friday evening but this view in Hanger 6 at North Weald Airport is too good to miss.
Essex County Council has said it is a Douglas C-47 Skytrain (Dakota) in the background.
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Deborah McGurran
BBC East political editor
At the Colchester count in Charter Hall, the Lib Dems - who run Colchester Borough Council in a coalition with Labour - appear to be under pressure.
Results here are expected at about 04:30 BST.
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Residents in Chelmsford have been voting for county councillors and the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex.
Those in the Moulsham Lodge ward of the city council have also been voting in a by-election to fill a vacancy after a councillor resigned.
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Simon Dedman
BBC Essex political reporter
The unitary authority in Southend should be quite interesting.
That's because the Tories could in theory take control of the council. They are currently the largest party on the council, but control is currently held by a rainbow coalition of Labour, Lib Dem and Independent members.
The other parties do not seem too interested in working with the Tories at present. But let's see whether the Independent members still feel that way once the results are in.
Image source, Southend borough CouncilThe leadership vote in 2019 at Southend Borough Council
Image source, GoogleHarlow District Council, external is responsible for services like bin collections, parks, public housing and local planning applications.
Party in power: Labour
Seats up for election 13
Seats on council: 33
Other public services are controlled by Essex County Council , externalwhich covers a wider area.
Simon Dedman
BBC Essex political reporter
Harlow is a classic red-blue bell-weather ding dong council.
Labour has a pretty good majority on that council and on the face of it you would think it would be quite hard to lose there.
But on the county council elections last time around, the Conservatives took all the Harlow seats up for grabs.
It is definitely one of the Essex councils to keep an eye on.
Image source, GoogleCastle Point Borough Council, external is responsible for services like bin collections, parks, public housing and local planning applications.
Party in power: Conservatives
Seats up for election: 13
Seats on council: 42
The Conservatives dominate most areas of Castle Point but Independents could hold the Canvey Island wards.
Other public services are controlled by Essex County Council, external which covers a wider area.
Image source, GoogleColchester Borough Council, external is responsible for services like bin collections, parks, public housing and local planning applications.
Party in power: No overall control
Seats up for election: 19
Seats on council: 51
The Conservatives last won a majority in 1984.
Other public services are controlled by Essex County Council , externalwhich covers a wider area.
At the count for Southend-on-Sea, the ballot boxes have arrived and verification is taking place before the count begins.
In Southend, residents have been voting for representatives for Southend-on-Sea Borough Council and the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex.
Southend has a unitary authority which looks after all the local council services such as schools, road maintenance, bin collections, public housing and social care.
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Andrew Sinclair
BBC Look East political correspondent
I'm in Harlow tonight where it is very different to a normal count. Everyone is wearing masks and are social distancing.
The staff at the count were briefed
Then the count began
In Harlow, residents have been voting for representatives for Harlow District Council, external, Essex County Council, external and the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex.
Results are expected here at about 03:00 BST.
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