Professor Sir John Curtice
Polling expert
The Cons have recorded their first gain from Labour in one of the BBC key wards.
In the Barnes ward in Sunderland there was a 6% swing from Lab to Con in a ward where UKIP won 18% of the vote in 2014.
Richard Moss
Political Editor, BBC Look North
Conservatives hold on to Fulwell seat in Sunderland.
Richard Moss
Political Editor, BBC Look North
Now seven Labour holds in Sunderland.
Party holds in Hendon and Houghton.
Two defeats - to Lib Dems in Pallion, and Conservatives in Barnes.
Control is not at stake.
Labour will finish the night on a minimum of 51 seats out of the 75 on the council even if they lose every other seat.
Just to confirm a couple of those results from earlier:
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Richard Moss
Political Editor, BBC Look North
The Conservatives have gained seat from Labour in the Barnes ward in Sunderland.
Antony Mullen won with 1,560 votes, to Labour's 1,238.
Professor Sir John Curtice
Polling expert
The third Sunderland key ward in which UKIP one 25% of the vote in 2014 has again repeated the pattern of a substantial increase in Conservative support, while Labour's vote has actually fallen back slightly.
We may have signs here that Labour's performance is not going to be particularly strong in places that voted heavily for leave in 2016.
Richard Moss
Political Editor, BBC Look North
Two other Labour holds in Sunderland in Doxford and Hetton.
Elizabeth Gibson elected in Doxford, Claire Rowntree in Hetton.
Conservatives a close second in Doxford, Independent was the runner up in Hetton.
"Some people have voted for three different parties"
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Richard Moss
Political Editor, BBC Look North
Liberal Democrats make a gain on Sunderland Council taking a seat in Pallion.
George Smith wins with 1,461 votes, Labour 714, Conservatives 178, Green 76.
David MacMillan
BBC Tees
Turnout in Hartlepool is 24%.
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Here's the breakdown from Sunderland:
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Daniel Holland
Local Democracy Reporter
Counting has now begun here.
Still at that stage of the night where every candidate has (or at least claims to have) little idea of how things have gone for them!
A few stats to keep you entertained while we await the first results: We have 360 counters here tonight and 124 ballot boxes. Thirty Northumbria Uni students are raising money for the Zambia Project and they were the ballot box runners.
Richard Moss
Political Editor, BBC Look North
The first seat has been declared in Sunderland.
It's a Labour hold in Silksworth.
Phil Tye is elected with 1,417 votes, Conservatives polled 880, Lib Dems 203, Green 202.
It's a long night waiting for election results to be counted, but David has found the biccies:
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Although UKIP has never won a seat in Sunderland, they often came second. Who will pick up their votes?
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Luke Walton
BBC Look North
Labour goes into this election defending 54 of Newcastle's 78 council seats - a majority unlikely to be seriously challenged.
But because this is an all-out contest fought under new boundaries, there is a degree of uncertainty about results in local wards.
The Lib Dems - who defend 20 seats - are the main opposition, having previously led the council between 2004 and 2011.
In recent elections they have conceded seats to Labour but hope pledges to improve litter and refuse collection will win back lost ground.
There hasn't been a Conservative councillor in Newcastle since 1996 but the party has been heavily targeting newly-created wards in prosperous suburbs like Gosforth, where the Lib Dems represent the main competition.
Even one or two blue gains in the city would be a step forward for a local Tory party trying to shake off 22 years of frustration.
Richard Moss
Political Editor, BBC Look North
Even if they lose all of their 21 seats tonight, Labour will retain enough councillors to stay in charge of Sunderland.
There could be some keen contests in some of the wards though - the Liberal Democrats are keen to add some more seats, and even challenge the Conservatives’ position as the official opposition.
The Green Party and Independents have also put up candidates, and there will be former UKIP votes up for grabs, as despite Sunderland’s reputation as “Brexit City”, the party’s failed to field a single candidate.