Portsmouth City Council now has 19 Conservatives, 16 Lib Dems, 6 Labour and 1 independent.

Matt Graveling at the count in Reading as Labour hope to maintain their dominance at the borough council

A shock result in Southampton is likely as the leader of the Labour-run city council Simon Letts is set to lose his Bitterne seat.

Tory group leader Jeremy Moulton already lost his seat in Freemantle after 16 years as a councillor.

Peter Henley
Political editor, South of England

The Lib Dems last held this council in 2003, although on a Westminster level Mark Oaten served as the MP for Winchester until 2010.

It has been a Lib Dem v Conservative fight since the mid-1990s. The Lib Dems will be looking to defend and make progress from the seven seats won in 2014.

If they don't win this, Vince Cable will be failing to make any improvement from one of the Lib Dem's lowest points in government, and at the moment it looks like Conservatives will hold on.

Peter Henley
Political editor, South of England

It's mathematically impossible for Labour to lose control of Slough Borough Council. They cuurently have a majority of 22.

One third of the council's seats are up for election.

Luke De Costa
BBC Radio Solent reporter

We've no results from Eastleigh yet but Bishopstoke is the most interesting area right now - there are tight groups around the counting table, where three seats are up for grabs.

The Independents look confident and Lib Dem members are telling me it’s looking a bit shaky.

The Lib Dem stalwart of Fair Oak is also rumoured to be in danger. The Conservatives are confident they may pinch one of the three Lib Dem seats

Labour's Stephen Morgan MP, Lib Dem Gerald Vernon-Jackson and Tory council leader Donna Jones spoke to political editor Peter Henley during the early stages of the count in Portsmouth Guildhall.

Peter Henley
Political editor, South of England

After taking the Reading East constituency at last year's general election, Labour are hoping to secure another big majority - they currently have 31 seats, a 16 seat majority over the Conservatives.

The Greens are the third biggest party with three seats.

Peter Henley
Political editor, South of England

It's mathematically impossible for Tories to lose their majority on Wokingham Borough Council.

A small part of the prime minister's Maidenhead seat is in this council area.

Hannah Bewley
Reporter, BBC Radio Solent

A third of Portsmouth's council seats are up for grabs.

The Conservatives are currently in control only one seat short of a majority but their tally has been boosted by UKIP defections so it is probably a bit harder than it looks for them to win a majority.

There was an unexpected change in Portsmouth's vital statistics after last year's general election as Labour took one of the city's seats from the Conservatives.

Currently Labour only has two seats on the council - so is hoping to capitalise.

The last time these particular council seats were contested, the Liberal Democrats lost control of the council as UKIP picked up votes and won six seats.

With indications suggesting the UKIP vote has collapsed all eyes will now be on how many seats the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats will end up with on the night.

Peter Henley
Political editor, South of England

The Conservatives are dominant here - it is mathematically impossible for them to lose their majority.

But it's part of the Oxford West & Abingdon Westminster constituency - where Lib Dem MP Layla Moran gained the seat from Nicola Blackwood in last year's general election. The Lib Dems should be looking to take one or two seats from the Conservatives.

Tristan Pascoe
BBC Radio Solent political reporter

Counting is under way here in Southampton where Labour currently controls the city council with a large Conservative minority snapping at their heels.

The general election has given the ruling group a reason for renewed confidence - gunning for more wards than they have previously targeted, as Labour's Alan Whitehead increased his majority in one seat, and Conservative's Royston Smith held on to his Itchen seat with a majority of just 31.

The Conservatives are hoping to capitalise on what they see as weaknesses in the Labour administration - and say they could lead a healthier council.

Although there is currently no Liberal Democrat voice on the council there is a small but vocal block of independents, who are all ex-Labour councillors.

Peter Henley
Political editor, South of England

The Conservatives are likely to retain their majority in Fareham. They currently hold 24 of the 31 council seats.

This is another rare council that elects by halves, meaning half the seats are up for election.

Will the Lib Dems make gains?

Peter Henley
Political editor, South of England

Claire Udy has been elected to Portsmouth City Council. She resigned from the Labour Party last week and said she would sit as an independent.

Peter Henley
Political editor, South of England

With a 13-seat majority, the Conservatives should win another comfortable majority.

If it falls into No Overall control, this has been a very bad night for the Conservatives.