Three pupils from Stanwell School, Penarth, cast votes for the first time and described the excitement of the process.

A-level politics student Davis, 17, from Penarth, said it was "nerve-racking" as his course has taught him it is about people giving the power to others and "putting their trust" in them.

He voted Liberal Democrat for the constituency and the Green Party on the regional list.

Amelia, 17, from Sully, said last week's debate television shows influenced her and she voted Labour constituency and Liberal Democrat regional.

Jed, 16, from Sully, said: "I voted Labour on both votes. I was looking for the party that helps the most people and they were who I believed would."

We said a few minutes ago a recount might be needed in Vale of Clwyd - well, it's happening.

Tory sources say they were ahead before the recount was called.

This is one of their top targets to take from Labour.

A declaration is expected in the next hour.

Parties in the Vale of Clwyd are saying the vote is "really tight" - possibly to the point of a recount being needed.

Labour won this seat in 2016 by 768 votes, with the Conservatives coming in second.

Counting is under way, with suggestions from the Denbigh Leisure Centre that the Tories may be picking up some votes.

Socially-distanced counts mean much emptier-looking counting halls than normal.

This is the scene at the Sobell Leisure Centre in Aberdare for the Cynon Valley count.

Former Plaid MS Bethan Sayed, who stood down before the election, is not sounding very confident about the chances of Leanne Wood - who provided one of the big shocks of the 2016 election when she took Rhondda from Labour.

"I'm hearing some mixed views on how we're doing at the moment," she told BBC Radio Wales.

"I'm not hearing such good things in the Rhondda unfortunately.

"I know that Leanne has a massive following and I hope that she, on the day, was able to get that vote out."

Describing the former party's leader as "a fab campaigner and local politician", she added: "On a personal level I would be absolutely gutted if she lost.

"But I don't want to say anything too negative now because she hasn't yet so let's see how it goes but I personally would be very sad if she does."

'Who understands how the voting system works?'published at 14:35 British Summer Time 7 May 2021

14:35 BST 7 May 2021

Prof Laura McAllister
Cardiff University

Few would mourn the death of the Additional Member System (AMS) used for Senedd elections. Hands up those who really understand how it works?

If I had a penny for how many times this past week that I’ve explained how the two ballot papers work, never mind trying to avoid the dreaded D’Hondt formula, external.

The AMS lends itself to so-called "split ticketing", that is where voters choose to vote for a different party on the constituency ballot to the regional list ballot.

But for this to be used effectively, voters need to understand the system.

Plus, the very fact that tactical voting comes so strongly into play with AMS is essentially a sign of its inherent weakness, with people having to game the system and vote against parties that they most vehemently oppose rather than for those they like.

Currently, only a minority "split ticket" but the Welsh Election Survey suggests there’s been an increase this time. With increased voter fluidity as a result of a weakening in party loyalties that’s no great surprise but it might well have a differential impact on the parties.

In case you missed it, Conservative Russell George has been re-elected as the MS for Montgomeryshire in our first result of the 2021 Senedd election.

Mr George says it's an "absolute privilege" to be returned as the MS for his home constituency.

The Green Party has a "real chance" of winning seats on the regional list, according to its deputy leader.

Speaking in Newport, Amelia Womack said things were “too close to tell” but that “it’s always going to be a small percent increase that will make history in Wales and get that Green win that we’ve seen elsewhere in the country".

Ms Womack said she was feeling “inspired” after Green wins in council elections in England overnight.

Analysispublished at 13:52 British Summer Time 7 May 2021

13:52 BST 7 May 2021

Prof Laura McAllister
Cardiff University

Montgomeryshire is a very good result for the Welsh Conservatives with Russell George – who held the seat in the last Welsh Parliament – doubling his majority to more than 7,000, with his vote up 6.3%.The result sees the collapse of the Lib Dem vote – down 11% in a seat they once held in Cardiff Bay. The turnout of 50% is up 1.2% from 2016.

Analysispublished at 13:46 British Summer Time 7 May 2021

13:46 BST 7 May 2021

Ione Wells
Westminster Correspondent, BBC Wales

The Tories double their majority in Montgomeryshire.

This isn't a surprise as it's a safe seat.

But the increase in support will be encouraging and they will hope it is a sign of things to come in the marginal seats in north and north-east Wales.

We have our first result of the day and it's a Welsh Conservative hold in Montgomeryshire for Russell George.

It's a comfortable hold for the Tories, who have increased their share of the vote from 41.8% to 48.1%, with 12,013 votes.

The winning margin was almost 8,000 votes.

Plaid Cymru came in second with 4,485 votes, the Liberal Democrats third with 4,207 and Labour fourth with 3,576.

The Conservatives, Plaid and Labour have all increased their vote share since 2016.

The Welsh Conservatives say they are quietly confident of holding Aberconwy with their candidate Janet Finch Saunders.

Plaid Cymru’s Aaron Wynne says it’s very hard to say which way it will go.

This was one of the tightest seats in Wales in 2016, when the Tories beat Plaid by just 754 votes, with Labour a further 853 behind.

Labour also say they think they have a chance in this seat and are expecting a close race.

Plaid Cymru said the election campaign has been "challenging" because of "an unprecedented focus on the London parties".

A spokesman said: "With counting under way, Plaid Cymru is proud of its positive campaign based on its ambition to create a fairer, greener and independent Wales.

"We will continue to make the case for Wales’ future to be put in Wales’ hands."

From the BBC's Mark Hutchings:

Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Wales at Neath Sports Centre

Election days can sometimes feel like exhibitions for the leisure centres of Wales.

At Neath Sports Centre, the votes are still being verified and a declaration for the Neath constituency is expected between 16:00 and 17:00.

Labour's Jeremy Miles, Counsel General and Minister for European Transition, is defending the seat he won in 2016.

David Deans
BBC Wales politics reporter

A Welsh Conservative source is lowering expectations that the party will be able to beat Labour to take Clwyd South.

The constituency is held by the Conservatives' Simon Baynes in Westminster, but Labour's Ken Skates is fighting for the seat at this election.

The economy minister is defending a majority of 3,016.

Cardiff North has been held by Labour's Julie Morgan since 2011 - but people at Tots Play in Llanishen have voted for her rivals, either in the constituency or on the regional list.

“Even though I’m not Welsh, the kind of conversations that are happening in Scotland, I’d be interested to see those conversations happening here in Wales, so that influenced my vote - I voted for Plaid Cymru, so that those conversations about Welsh independence and autonomy can happen at a higher level," said Katie O'Farrell.

She was with seven-month-old Naoise and, while she believes Labour has done a good job during the pandemic, added: "It wasn’t so much voting against anything that’s happened in the last 12 months, it was more a vote for the future."

Nursery owner Kate Worgan said policies coming out of lockdown were really important to her: “I did partly vote for Labour, but I did also vote for my local Conservative MS, just because he’s been really good in our local community."

Jennifer Allen was with five-month-old Mackenzie and said: “The Propel Party want to reform children’s services in Wales and that’s an important issue for me. I also voted for Labour because I feel they stand for working people.”

Papers are being verified at the Pembrokeshire Showground for the Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire constituency.

We could get the result there at about 15:00.

You can also see in the below picture some of the measures in place to ensure the count is Covid secure.

David Deans
BBC Wales politics reporter

It is extremely early, with counting barely under way, but parties are already starting to brief the media on how they think they might do.

Welsh Labour, the party which has been in charge of the Welsh government for 22 years, is managing expectations, and potentially preparing the ground for losses.

Sources in the party admit an “extremely tough night for the Labour party” and say they had a “mountain to climb” at the start of the Senedd campaign.

They say the “political weather remains extremely difficult and retaining all our Senedd seats remains a massive challenge”.

Others are keeping their powder dry.

One Welsh Conservative source played down their chances to gain the Vale of Glamorgan, but otherwise suggested it was too early to speculate.

Prior to the close of polls the source had been keener on Wrexham and Vale of Clwyd, but less so on Delyn and Clwyd South.

Counting in an election usually begins soon after the final vote is cast at 22:00, with results coming in overnight.

Things are taking a little longer this year because of Covid, but ballot papers are now being tallied up to reveal the new members of the Senedd.