Richard Moss
Political Editor, BBC Look North

The exit poll certainly suggests the Conservatives could go beyond their initial target seats in the North East and Cumbria.

If right, Bishop Auckland, Stockton South, Darlington and Workington might have gone.

The likes of Sedgefield, Blyth Valley are certainly in play - and maybe beyond that.

I'm certainly hearing of large turnouts in Brexit-voting parts of the North East.

Conservative sources are suggesting it may be voters who turned out in 2016 determined to show backing for leaving the EU.

There will be fury among many Labour candidates in the North East and Cumbria at leadership and strategy that could turn red seats blue here - even possibly losing Tony Blair's former Sedgefield seat.

No results are in yet of course though.

The first ballot boxes have arrived in North Shields:

• Watch the election night special with Huw Edwards from 21:55 GMT on BBC One, the BBC News Channel and BBC iPlayer
• It will also be shown on BBC World News and streamed live on the BBC News website internationally
• As polls close at 22:00, the BBC will publish an exit poll across all its platforms, including @bbcbreaking, external and @bbcpolitics, external
• The BBC News website and app will bring youlive coverage and the latest analysis throughout the night
• We will feature results for every constituency as they come in witha postcode search, map and scoreboards
• Follow @bbcelection, external or every constituency result
• From 21:45, Jim Naughtie and Emma Barnett will host live election night coverage on BBC Radio 4, with BBC Radio 5 Live joining from midnight

Professor Sir John Curtice
Polling expert

The variation in the ups and downs in the parties' shares of the vote reflects differences in how constituencies voted in the 2016 referendum.

The Conservatives are expected to advance most strongly and Labour fall back most in areas that voted most strongly for Leave - many of them more working class seats.

In contrast, the Conservative share of the vote is expected to fall back on 2017 in those areas that voted most strongly for Remain, while Labour’s vote is expected to fall back rather less.

However, even in the most strongly pro-Remain seats there could still be a small swing from Labour to the Conservatives.

One consequence of this pattern is that the Conservative share of the vote is expected to fall back slightly both in London and in Scotland, and do little more than replicate the 2017 vote in the South East outside of London.

The party will advance most strongly in the Midlands and the North of England.

The pattern of Labour performance is largely the obverse of the Conservative Party, with the party’s votes falling most heavily in the North and Midlands.

Voters have been to the polls to decide who will form the next UK government.

Good evening and welcome to our live election coverage across the North East.

Stay with us through the night for every single result and reaction from our 35 constituencies, plus colour and behind the scenes insights from our reporters at every single count.

But first we have to mention the BBC, ITV and Sky exit poll which predicts that the Conservatives will win 368 seats.

"The principal aim of the exit poll is to help viewers and listeners to navigate the initial hours of election night as the first results come in," said Prof Sir John Curtice, political commentator for BBC News.

In 2017, the poll correctly predicted there would be a hung parliament.

It even predicted the Conservatives would take 314 seats - three fewer than the 317 the party ended up with.

But all this will be revealed as the night goes on.

Connor Marsden was driving at more than twice the speed limit when he struck the 10-year-old.

BBC News finds the unusual places polling stations are open as dogs wait for their voting owners.

Our live updates have finished here for the timebeing but we'll be back when the polls close at 22:00 to bring you all the election results as they happen through the night.

Until then this page will be updated with any breaking news, sport or travel. You can also stay up to date on BBC Newcastle, BBC Tees and Look North.

If you want to get in touch with any news or send us photos you can tweet us, external, contact us via our Facebook page, external or email us.

Polls across the North East close at 22:00 tonight and then the counting begins - we'll be bringing you all the North East results on this page.

The BBC's election count specialist, Tim Burke, shows us the operation that brings you every result from across the country.

How to follow election night on the BBC:

Watch the election night special with Huw Edwards from 21:55 GMT on BBC One, the BBC News Channel,iPlayer

The BBC News website and app will bring you live coverage and the latest analysis throughout the night

Listen to election night coverage with Jim Naughtie and Emma Barnett from 21:45 GMT on BBC Radio 4, with BBC Radio 5 live joining for a simulcast from midnight

Hundreds of pounds, jewellery and clothing were stolen from a family home in Guisborough, on Tuesday.

It happened between 12:45 and 14:40 on Mossdale Grove and the property was left ransacked.

Jewellery, cash, including children’s savings, a child’s North Face jacket and grey children’s McKenzie T-shirt and shorts, were stolen from the house.

Cleveland Police is appealing for information.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Nic Marko

The next step for plans for 220 new homes in Hartlepool is to be decided next week.

The residential development off Elwick Road, which would have 29 two-bedroom properties, 93 three-bedroom sites and 98 four-bedroom sites, got outline planning permission at the end of last year.

But council officers are recommending the plans are refused, as they do not meet minimum separation distances between properties or have well-designed off-street parking.

There have been 33 objections from residents as well, raising concerns about access, over-development of the site and strains on local services.

A statement from WYG Consultants on behalf of the applicant said the development "is entirely appropriate in terms of appearance, scale, layout and landscaping".

A decision will be made on 18 December.

Image source, Google

Sam Fender has said he is "absolutely gutted" to cancel the rest of his 2019 tour because of laryngitis.

The North Shields singer was due to play at the O2 Academy Brixton on Wednesday night, but posted on Instagram that he won't be able to continue.

Sam said: "Absolute nightmare. Got laryngitis and have been instructed by the doctor to stop singing for two weeks, if I carry on I could haemorrhage my cords which would mean being out for months."

He added he is working on rescheduling the shows.

Image source, Getty Images

Sunderland boss Phil Parkinson tells winger Aiden McGeady he can leave League One side Sunderland in January.

As you have probably noticed by now - dogs have been heading to the polls, as well as voters.

These pooches were photographed at polling stations in Northumberland.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Nic Marko

Plans for an "innovative box park" at a retail park in Hartlepool could be under threat if proposals to move Aldi go ahead.

The park would use shipping containers for retail purposes and could bring up to 40 jobs to the area.

But bosses behind the development now say the project is in jeopardy after proposals from Aldi to move its store from Tees Bay Retail Park to Brenda Road.

According to an objection letter, submitted to the council, Aldi's move could prevent investment in the retail park and harm a retail centre:

Aldi have said the current store is "outdated and too small" and there is "more than sufficient" retail capacity to support the new store and the existing Tees Bay Retail Park.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas in Northumberland - here is snow lying near Carrshield, southwest Hexham, this morning.

Image source, PA

Image source, PA

BBC Tees

Hundreds of volunteers collected five tonnes of rubbish from Durham’s Heritage Coast this year.

Schools, universities, businesses, community groups and members of the public took part in 90 beach cleans, recovering 2,000 bags of rubbish from the stretch between Seaham and Crimdon.

The final official Durham Heritage Coast beach clean of 2019 is on Sunday from 11:00 until 13:00 at Red Acre beach in Seaham.