Results are still being counted for other council elections, as well as for two mayors and four police and crime commissioners, and it may not be until Monday before they are all announced.

Ones due today are the Cleveland and Northumbria PCCs, and the Tees Valley Mayor.

North Tyneside Council could be today or Saturday.

On Saturday there will be the Durham PCC, North Tyneside Mayor, and Durham County Council along with Hartlepool Council.

All eyes are likely to be on the latter in the light of the Tories winning the parliamentary seat.

The council's 36 seats are up for grabs, and currently with no overall control, it is led by a coalition involving Conservatives, all manner of independents and other groups.

Cumbria PCC results are then due to be announced on Monday.

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Northumberland is a "funny place" according to the council leader, and he was not talking about the election count, where for the second time running dead heats had to be decided by a draw.

Speaking after the Conservatives took overall control, with a majority of one, Glen Sanderson so described the area because it "tends not to follow national trends".

However, in this case, it did - with the Tories gaining seats, as they have in many places elsewhere.

In Northumberland's case he put it down to the council's record in doing "important, every day stuff".

He said: "I think it's because people realise in troubled times we've shown leadership, we've shown courage and our staff have worked fantastically well providing frontline services.

"I think our record speaks for itself, and that's the reason."

As local election votes were counted on Thursday evening, it emerged rivals have put plans in motion to try to replace the Labour party's figurehead, Nick Forbes.

Byker councillor Nick Kemp, who quit the council’s cabinet last summer in a split from Labour’s leaders, confirmed he is putting himself forward to become leader.

it will be decided at the Labour group’s annual general meeting on Monday evening.

Mr Forbes (pictured) said: “I have both a strong track record of delivery and ambitious ideas for the future to put to the Labour group.”

Mr Kemp has sat on the council since 2002 and had previously had responsibility for issues such as trading standards and bin collections in his role as cabinet member for environmental and regulatory services.

Daniel Holland
Local Democracy Reporter

Labour lost two seats in Newcastle and council leader Nick Forbes is to face a leadership challenge next Monday from one of his former cabinet members, Nick Kemp.

The city’s ruling party, which still boasts a heavy majority on the council, saw two seats in the outer west of Newcastle fall to the Newcastle Independents party.

Labour manage to hold off challenges from the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives’ long run without an election win in Newcastle continued.

The Green Party’s hopes of securing a first seat on the city council were also dashed

There were 28 seats up for grabs - 18 were held by Labour, six held by the Lib Dems, two won by the Newcastle Independents, and two held by independents.

The overall political makeup of the council is now: Labour 52, Lib Dem 20, three Newcastle Independents and three independents.

If you're just joining us, good morning and here is a round-up of what has happened so far:

• The Conservatives won the Hartlepool by-election with Jill Mortimer (pictured below) named as the town's new MP
• Labour had held the seat since the current constituency was created in 1974
• Ms Mortimer won with 15,529 votes, while Labour's Mr Williams received 8,589
• The Conservatives also took control of Northumberland County Council with a majority of one seat
• Labour kept control of Newcastle, Sunderland, Gateshead and South Tyneside Councils but with some losses
• Results still to come are the Northumbria and Cleveland police and crime commissioners (PCC), Tees Valley Mayor and North Tyneside Council later today.
• Durham County Council, Hartlepool Council Durham PCC and North Tyneside mayor are expected on Saturday and Cumbria PCC on Monday

Image source, PA Media

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Chris Binding

Labour has kept control of South Tyneside Council.

The party lost four seats but easily retained control, taking 16 out of the 20 seats which were contested across the borough.

Now the council’s overall make-up is 44 Labour councillors, five independents, three Greens, one Conservative and Jeff Milburn who is listed on the council’s website as an Independent Conservative.

The council's leader Tracey Dixon, who retained her seat in Whitburn and Marsden with 1,337 votes, said she was “slightly disappointed” with the result.

She said: “We were hoping that we would retain 20 Labour councillors but unfortunately we have lost four seats and that isn’t for the want of the candidates trying, it’s been a very difficult year for this year’s election."

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Herbert Soden

There's been no change at Gateshead Council.

Labour, as the borough's ruling party managed to retain all its seats with healthy majorities.

This year there were 24 seats up for grabs one for each of the borough’s 22 wards and then an extra for both Lamesley and Birtley – these extra seats were both taken by Labour.

The Lib Dems took five seats, gaining one from an Independent.

Before the results were declared council leader Martin Gannon said voters would judge his councillors on their local performance.

He added: “Whatever people may think of national politics there is a respect and confidence in the way Gateshead Council is run.

“Without being complacent we will continue to work with and engage with communities.

“Generally [voters] respect the way we run the council and that puts us in a secure place.”

The Conservatives have taken control of Northumberland County Council, with a majority of one.

A dead heat in two of the seats led to a ballot draw - effectively drawing straws - a repeat of the 2017 elections, at which the Tories then lost over all control.

Votes are still being counted in Northumberland.

Fergus Hewison
BBC Newcastle political reporter

Labour avoids losing overall control of Sunderland City Council, but only just.

It finishes the night having lost nine seats.

The council political composition is now Labour 42, Conservatives 18 (up six), Liberal Democrats 12 (up four, UKIP three (no gains, not defending any seats).

Results and reaction from the Hartlepool by-election, PCC, council and Tees Valley Mayor counts.

Good morning and welcome to the start of our live coverage of the election results in the North East and Cumbria.

To start you off here is a round-up of what has happened overnight.

• The result of the Hartlepool by-election is expected to be declared shortly but Labour's shadow transport secretary, Jim McMahon, has already admitted defeat
• Labour have kept control of Sunderland City Council but lost nine seats
• Labour have also held Newcastle City Council, Gateshead Council and South Tyneside Council

Image source, PA Media

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