Lib Dems take control of Mid Devonpublished at 16:22 British Summer Time 5 May 2023Breaking
The Liberal Democrats have another victory, this time in Mid Devon.
Image source, .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
Lib Dems take control of Mid Devonpublished at 16:22 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
Image source, .Labour hold Burypublished at 16:20 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
There's no change in Bury as the council remains Labour controlled
Image source, .Greens surpass expectations in East Hertfordshirepublished at 16:19 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
The Greens have become the largest party in East Hertfordshire, after the Conservatives lost control of the council.
Although they're short of a majority, it's a huge win for the Greens, who previously only had one seat on the council.
Their 18 gains exceed the expectations of the party's co-leader, Adrian Ramsay, who on a visit to the area last month said they were hoping to get 10 seats.
The council has been under Tory control since 1999 and is represented by Tory MPs at Westminster.
Along with their success in Mid Suffolk, where they won their first ever outright council majority, it's been a good set of results for the Greens.
Conservatives hold Reigate and Bansteadpublished at 16:16 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
There's no change in Reigate and Banstead, Surrey, which remains a Tory council.
No change in St Albanspublished at 16:15 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
It's a Lib Dem hold.
Councillor who won second seat 150 miles away quitspublished at 16:14 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
Image source, LDRSImage caption, Chris Twells was set to represent both Tetbury with Upton and Ordsall
A Liberal Democrat councillor who was set to represent two places - more than 150 miles away from each other - is expected to resign from one.
Chris Twells won Tetbury with Upton in Gloucestershire despite already representing Ordsall in north-west England.
Following his Cotswold District Council victory, Mr Twells said he would begin the process of resigning from Ordsall.
It comes after his candidacy sparked controversy in both areas.
Final results coming thick and fast nowpublished at 16:07 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
Sarah Fowler
Live reporterThirty-three hours after the local elections began, we’re now getting to the business end with just 96 councils left to declare their results. Labour and the Lib Dems have been making serious gains at the expense of the Conservatives, who have lost control of more than 20 councils overall so far.
In the past few hours, we’ve seen the Tories suffer losses in a number of key councils including Stratford-on Avon, taken by the Lib Dems, and Swindon Borough Council which is now under Labour control.
Stick with us as we bring you the final rush of results, reaction from all the main parties and explain what it means more broadly for a future general election.
And a reminder that elections are not taking place in Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland will be holding their own council elections on Thursday 18 May.
Conservatives lose control of East Hertfordshirepublished at 16:05 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
BreakingThe Conservatives have lost control of East Hertfordshire. The Greens are now the largest party, after they gained 18 seats and the Tories lost 27.
Labour keeps hold of Gedlingpublished at 16:00 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
Gedling, Nottinghamshire, stays under Labour.
Image source, .Babergh, Suffolk stays under no overall controlpublished at 15:57 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
No change in Babergh, Suffolk - which stays under no overall control.
Image source, .Conservative hold in Fyldepublished at 15:56 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
It's a hold for the Conservatives in Fylde, Lancashire.
Image source, .Greens win first outright council majoritypublished at 15:53 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
Image source, John Fairhall/BBCImage caption, The Green Party's co-leader Adrian Ramsay (right) celebrates Green gains at the Mid Suffolk count in Wherstead
Mid Suffolk was the Green Party's key target - and now we've had confirmation that they've won their first ever outright council majority there.
The former Conservative stronghold has had no party in overall control since 2019, with the Tories running it in coalition with one independent councillor.
But the Greens weren't far behind in 2019, with 12 seats compared to the Tories 16.
A largely rural area, concerns about large-scale housing developments have been a key local issue.
The council's Tory leader, Suzie Morley was among those to lose her seat.
Suffolk is currently represented by Tory MPs at Westminster but the Greens say they're hoping they can translate local gains into more Green representation at a national level.
Greens gain Mid Suffolkpublished at 15:50 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
BreakingThe Green Party have gained Mid Suffolk from no overall control - their first ever outright majority on a council.
Conservatives win in Torbaypublished at 15:48 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
BreakingA win for the Conservatives as Torbay, Devon, moves from no overall control.
Image source, .Labour gain High Peakpublished at 15:45 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
BreakingHigh Peak goes to Labour after being under no overall control.
Image source, .Here's how the seats went there.
Chelmsford stays under Lib Dem controlpublished at 15:43 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
It's also a hold for the Lib Dems in Chelmsford.
Image source, .Liberal Democrats hold Eastbournepublished at 15:43 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
No change in Eastbourne.
Image source, .Conservatives lose Staffordshire Moorlandspublished at 15:42 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
BreakingStaffordshire Moorlands also switches to no overall control from the Tories.
Image source, .Conservatives lose Tewkesburypublished at 15:41 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
BreakingTewkesbury has switched to a hung council - where no party has overall control.
It's another loss for the Conservatives.
Image source, .Financial woes contribute to Labour losing Sloughpublished at 15:39 British Summer Time 5 May 2023
Labour has lost its first council, after Slough in Berkshire switched to no overall control.
The Conservatives made a huge gain of 16 seats, with Labour losing 18 and the Liberal Democrats gaining three.
There are some local issues at play here - the council was effectively declared bankrupt in 2021, with government-appointed commissioners brought in after an independent review raised concerns about financial mismanagement and a "dysfunctional culture".
However, Labour previously had a big majority so the Tories have done well to become the largest party with 21 councillors - just one short of a majority.