The Conservatives have gained a seat from Labour in Warwickshire. The ward boundaries have been redrawn so it is impossible to draw an exact comparison, but the ward in question (Bedworth North) was in a relatively strong Labour area in 2013.

Prof John Curtice of Strathclyde University said: "This could be a sign that the Conservatives have a chance of winning control of Warwickshire Council."

Labour have lost a second seat to an independent in Wrexham in a ward in which the party won as much as 72% of the vote four years ago. 

Prof John Curtice of Strathclyde University said: "On the first two results for the council it looks as though the elections in Wrexham could prove to be difficult for the party. On the other hand, so far the party has been managing to hang on to seats in nearby Flintshire."

Prof Roger Scully

Ceredigion's last council was Plaid-led, with no overall control

“Plaid did well last time - could it secure a majority here? If it could, it would be a great thing for Plaid and would suggest the party could challenge the area's parliamentary seat. 

“But don’t forget, you have a Lib Dem Welsh leader here defending his seat in five weeks time.

“Can we see a Lib Dem comeback in Ceredigion?”

Labour's loss of Wrexham's Rhosnesni ward to an Independent is the party's first loss of the night anywhere in Britain.

Prof John Curtice of Strathclyde University said: "We will have to see whether this is a portent of results to come."

Image source, Getty Images

Some English and Welsh councils started counting ballots as soon as the polls closed at 22:00 BST this evening.

These include the West of England mayor and councils for the Isle of Wight, Warwickshire, Dorset, Flintshire, Merthyr Tydfil and Blaenau Gwent.

Other English and Welsh councils will start counting tomorrow morning, with results continuing all day Friday.

Scotland's 32 councils will start their counts at about 09:00 BST, with first results expected from midday.

Most mayoral results will be declared on Friday.

The West Midlands and Greater Manchester mayors are expected to be announced that evening.

Image source, Liberal Democrats

The granddaughter of Labour's post-war prime minister Clement Attlee will stand for Parliament for the Liberal Democrats.

Jo Roundell Greene will run in former party leader Paddy Ashdown's Yeovil constituency at the general election next month.

She said she had always felt "comfortable" as a Lib Dem, despite her illustrious family history.

Mr Ashdown said he was "delighted the flame has passed to Jo".

Image source, Baron/Getty Images

"I didn't think about my grandfather a lot," Ms Roundell Greene said when asked whether her grandfather's legacy overshadowed her own political aspirations.

"I have never, ever been a Conservative and it's fair to say my family were not Conservatives. 

"I joined the Lib Dems in 2000 but had always voted Lib Dem before - that is where I am comfortable."

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Just a brief departure from the local elections to have a look at BBC's Question Time....

Brexit Secretary David Davis, who attended the infamous Downing Street dinner with European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, defended Theresa May for her stinging attack on the "bureaucrats of Brussels" earlier this week.

Mr Davis tells BBC's Question Time the government wants to keep Brexit negotiations "stable, calm and sensible" to get the best outcome for both sides.

But he said "eventually we got to a point where a line was crossed" when briefings began that the UK would have to pay 100 billion euros as part of its divorce from the EU, and that the PM would not be able to negotiate.