Rick Faragher
BBC News NI

Mid and East Antrim Borough Council was expected to remain dominated by unionists and that appears to be the case as the counting of votes resumes at the Seven Towers Leisure Centre in Ballymena.

Thirty out of 40 councillors have been elected and the DUP is holding ground.

The party has had 11 councillors elected, while the Alliance Party and the Ulster Unionists have five apiece, the TUV and Sinn Fein both have four and there's been a single independent elected.

Sinn Féin's tally is double the number it secured in 2019 and includes its first ever councillor in Ballymena.

But it's been another bruising count here for the SDLP, which has failed so far to win any seats.

Robbie Meredith
BBC News NI

Counting of votes for the Ards and North Down Borough Council has recommenced at the Bangor Aurora Leisure Complex.

A total of 24 out of the 40 seats have already been allocated - eight for the DUP, seven for the Alliance Party, five for the Ulster Unionists and there are three independents.

SDLP candidate Joe Boyle, who had been the only nationalist on the previous council, also retains his seat.

The Alliance Party also won a seat from the Greens in the Bangor Central ward but there is still plenty to play for.

Image source, Pacemaker

Billy Hutchinson, the leader of the Progressive Unionist Party (PUP), has lost his seat on Belfast City Council.

He has been a councillor at City Hall on and off since 1997 and his been the leader of the PUP since 2011.

Ron McDowell from the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) picked up the seat in the Court ward.

BBC News NI's TV and radio coverage of the council election results is starting now and you can stream it at the top of this live page.

Mark Carruthers, Tara Mills and Mark Simpson are presenting BBC One NI's election programme and there'll be analysis and reaction in the studio from experts, commentators and politicians.

On BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Sounds you'll find our election results special presented by Sarah Brett and Chris Buckler, who will have live reports from our journalists at the count centres across Northern Ireland.

You can also watch a live stream of our radio coverage by pressing the play button at the top of the page.

Elaine McGee
BBC News NI

It's a grey morning here outside Foyle Arena but inside some candidates have a brighter outlook.

So far 20 of the 40 seats on Derry City and Strabane District Council have been filled, 10 of which have been won by Sinn Féin.

The Waterside, Faughan and Derg wards are done in terms of counting and this morning counting will resume for Sperrin, which has four seats outstanding.

All attention then turns to the Moor, Ballyarnett and Foyleside - an announcement on first-preference votes from those three wards is expected shortly.

Jayne McCormack
BBC News NI political correspondent

Three councils have already wrapped up counting so what do we know so far?

If the last election brought an Alliance Party surge, this time some are describing results as the Sinn Féin tsunami.

The party has made gains across seven councils so far.

In Armagh Banbridge and Craigavon Borough Council, where counting has finished overnight, Sinn Féin is now the largest party for the first time.

The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is holding ground in many areas but seems likely to fall from being the largest party in local government.

Image source, PA Media

The Alliance Party, which was the big winner four years ago, has picked up support in some areas but struggled in parts of the north west.

The Ulster Unionists and the Social Democratic and Labour Party (SDLP) have been squeezed with both parties losing some well-known faces.

The Green Party has also lost its second leader in 12 months and the PUP lost its seat in Belfast City Council to the Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV).

People Before Profit has also lost one of its 2019 wins and faces more battles today.

As the shape of our 11 councils starts to become clear the political tectonic plates are shifting yet again.

Welcome back to our live coverage of the results of Northern Ireland's council elections.

Well over half of the available seats in the 11 councils have been filled but the counting of votes is running into a second day and is likely to continue for some time.

We'll have regular updates and expert analysis from our reporters and correspondents at the count centres across Northern Ireland throughout today.

We'll also be streaming BBC News NI's TV and radio coverage as the results roll in - both of which start at 1000.

As we pause our live page for tonight 200 of the 462 councillors have been elected.

Some of the main stories emerging so far include

• Sinn Féin have picked up seats in Lisburn and Ballymena for the first time.
• DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson said this election is about holding ground
• Alliance have made gains in Limavady, Enniskillen and Ballyclare for the first time.

• SDLP are under pressure from Sinn Féin while the UUP face a battle to hold its ground.
• Green Party leader Mal O'Hara has lost his seat

We'll be back tomorrow morning with coverage from across the eleven count centres in Northern Ireland. We'll also be streaming our television and radio election specials from 10am.

Goodnight and thank you.

DUP councillor Alistair Cathcart has tweeted that he is "honoured to be re-elected as a councillor" for Bangor central.

"I love serving my hometown. I look forward to working hard to ensure that our city reaches its potential." he said.

"Thanks to all who put their faith in me, I will continue to listen & to work for you."

Image source, Peter Weir on Twitter

The Ulster Unionist Party have won back a seat in Carrick Castle after one of their councillors, John McDermott, defected to the DUP in 2020.

The DUP's John McDermott was eliminated in the fourth round.

Bethany Ferris (UUP) picked up the final seat.

The five councillors for Carrick Castle are Lauren Gray (All), Cheryl Brownlee (DUP), Billy Ashe (DUP), Robin Stewart (UUP) and Bethany Ferris (UUP)

Sinn Féin vice-president Michelle O'Neill has tweeted to say that voters have "sent a clear signal that they want a new assembly and running".

The party have picked up seats in new areas including Ballymena and Lisburn.

Sinn Féin is on course to become the biggest party in local government for the first time,

The Alliance Party have taken their first ever seat in Fermanagh.

Eddie Roofe has been elected to Fermanagh and Omagh council., external

The Alliance Party have taken a seat in Limavady for the first time.

Amy Mairs took the final seat in the DEA.

Her colleague Yvonne Boyle tweeted her congratulations., external

Image source, Yvonne Boyle from Twitter

The SDLP councillor Simon Lee has lost his seat on Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council.

"It has been an honour to represent and serve the people of Castlereagh South over the last four years," he tweeted. , external

"I’m proud of my record and believe I gave my all.

"For now I will enjoy more time with my family who have sacrificed a lot these last few years."

Councillor Lee defected from the Green Party to the SDLP last year.

Image source, Simon Lee from Twitter

The leader of the Green Party in Northern Ireland, Mal O'Hara, has lost his seat on Belfast City Council.

Mr O'Hara became party leader last August after Clare Bailey lost her seat in the Stormont assembly elections.

The deputy leader of the party, Lesley Veronica, has also failed to get elected.

Image source, Claudia Savage/PA Wire

The DUP's James Cochrane has been elected in Ards and North Down District Council.

"I’m deeply humbled and delighted to be elected by the great people of Bangor East and Donaghadee with 1,275 first preference votes," he tweeted. , external

"I’d like to thank everyone for their support which has meant so much to me."

Image source, James Cochrane from Twitter

The Alliance Party have taken a seat in Ballyclare for the first time.

Lewis Boyle was elected on the fifth count.

East Antrim Alliance MLA John Blair tweeted his congratulations., external

Image source, John Blair from Twitter