Summary

  • Labour and the Lib Dems have made gains at the expense of Conservatives in local elections, with the Tories losing more than 1000 councillors and 45 councils so far

  • Labour would have a nine-point lead over the Conservatives based on today's results, if all of Britain voted, the BBC projects

  • It has seized councils in key election battlegrounds including Swindon, Medway, Dover and East Staffordshire

  • The Lib Dems took control of councils in Stratford-on-Avon, Dacorum, Windsor and Maidenhead and South Hams from the Tories

  • The Green Party have won their first ever outright majority on a council in Mid Suffolk

  • PM Rishi Sunak has acknowledged some "disappointing results", while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer says his party's on course to win the next general election

  • You can watch BBC News coverage of the results live by clicking the play button at the top of this page

Live Reporting

Edited by Andrew Humphrey and Sarah Fowler

  1. Polls to close soon in England's local elections

    Rob Corp
    Live reporter

    Good evening and welcome to our coverage of England’s local elections.

    There’s less than an hour to go until the polls close - if you’re planning on heading to a polling station, don’t forget your photo ID.

    Not sure if there’s an election in your area? There’s still time to check here.

    I’m alongside Marita Moloney and Paul Seddon to bring you updates throughout the night, and we’ll have snap analysis from our political editor Chris Mason. Stick with us.