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Live Reporting

Alex Homer and Raj Bilkhu

All times stated are UK

  1. Have a good morning

    I hope you have enjoyed our live updates on the local elections. We'll have more in our Local Live service from 08:00, including results from the police and crime commissioner elections as we have them.

  2. Sandwell: Labour's clean sweep revealed before 02:00

    The chief executive has managed to get more sleep than most in similar shoes.

  3. Dudley: Five recounts needed in decisive ward

    Ben Sidwell

    BBC Midlands Today

    Labour lost control of Dudley Council following gains by the Conservatives and UKIP. Five recounts were needed in the decisive seat of Wollaston and Stourbridge Town before it was finally confirmed that Labour had lost grip on power after four years by a margin of just three votes.     

    Video content

    Video caption: Dudley voters' verdict
  4. Recap of the local election results across the West Midlands

    Alex Homer

    BBC Local Live

    Here is a recap of some of our top stories from the local elections overnight:

    - Labour lost overall control of Dudley, falling two seats short

    - The Conservatives lost overall control of Worcester

    - Labour leader Sean Coughlin is confident of making a deal with the Liberal Democrats to take control in Walsall

    - One seat made all the difference in Cannock Chase as Labour held on to overall control 

    - Conservatives were left frustrated in Redditch where Labour also held an overall majority of one seat

  5. Labour 'not good enough' in local elections - Emma Reynolds MP

    Today Programme

    BBC Radio 4

    Labour MP for Wolverhampton North East Emma Reynolds has said the party's results overnight were "not good enough" in the face of "Tories in disarray".

    She said Jeremy Corbyn as leader "should not be content with standing still" at this stage of the parliamentary cycle - highlighting other leaders who had made significant gains after one or two years in power.

    She stopped short of saying Corbyn should be replaced, saying the party's immediate priority was making its case in the pending EU Referendum.

    Emma Reynolds MP
  6. Birmingham: Labour stays in the driving seat

    Kathryn Stanczyszyn

    Political Reporter, BBC WM

    This was the last set of elections to be done in thirds in Birmingham - it's going to whole council elections in 2018. 

    It was also the last for certain wards in their current form, as boundary changes are due to come in before then; some of which are likely to be controversial. 

    Yesterday's vote was the first with John Clancy as Labour leader and his party gained two seats, leaving it with a strong majority - two thirds of the 120 seats on the authority.

  7. Local elections: How the night unfolded in numbers

    From the fastest council count in England to the thousands of cups of tea it takes to get through, here is how election night unfolded in numbers.  

    The Conservatives' own voters - and a mix-up - nearly cost them a seat in Wolverhampton.

    Ballot

    An "error" saw the party field two candidates in the same ward. The winning Conservative candidate, Udey Singh, received 1,045 votes and was elected to the Tettenhall Regis seat, with Labour's Chester Morrison in second on 970. 

    The other Conservative, outgoing councillor Mark Evans, polled 415 votes. If he had taken just 65 more from his fellow Tory it would have lost the party one of the two seats they were defending.  

  8. Walsall: Labour could resume council helm

    Mike Taylor

    BBC WM

    Walsall council remains in no overall control – as it has been since 2011 – but a change in administration may be in the offing.

    Several seats changed hands between the parties – but the outcome appears to leave both potential coalitions dead level.

    Labour had a net gain of one seat, leaving them with 28 on the 60-seat council, and the Liberal Democrats held their two wards in Short Heath and Willenhall North.

    Sister Dora

    The Conservatives remained on their original total of 25 seats, having had support from three UKIP and two Independent councillors to run an administration since last June.

    That makes 30 seats on each side – but as the current Mayor, who will have the casting vote, is Labour, it looks as though their leader Sean Coughlan will be returning to the top job on the council after 11 months away.

  9. England elections: Labour loses seats but holds key councils

    The make-up of England's councils has remained stubbornly unchanged following Thursday's elections, BBC News reports.

    With results in from two thirds of the 124 contested council areas, Labour has lost overall control of Dudley in the face of Tory and UKIP gains.

    Meanwhile, the Conservatives lost Worcester to no overall control but gained a majority in Peterborough.

    Clapping in Harlow
  10. Dudley: Proof that every vote counts

    Ben Sidwell

    BBC Midlands Today

    Proof that every vote counts - three very narrow defeats cost Labour overall control in Dudley.

    They finished two seats short of retaining their overall majority – but lost seats to the Conservatives by just three votes in Wollaston and Stourbridge Town (after five recounts), 13 votes in Belle Vale and 27 votes in Gornal.

    UKIP potentially hold the balance of power, with eight seats – but the senior Dudley Conservative councillor Anne Millward told BBC WM that they are not inclined to work with UKIP, and would consider coming to some form of arrangement with Labour.

    New council: Labour 35 seats, Con 29, UKIP eight.

  11. Redditch: Conservatives frustrated as Labour hangs on

    Bob Hockenhull

    BBC Midlands Today

    Conservative hopes of making a breakthrough in Redditch failed to materialise. Labour hung on to a council it was expected to lose if results reflected opinion polls.

    Video content

    Video caption: Redditch voters' verdict
  12. Worcester: 'Disappointing' night for Conservatives

    Conservative MP Therese Coffey said it was "disappointing to hear" that her party had lost control of Worcester council. 

    But she stressed that they only lost control because they lost one seat. She said: "I wouldn't read too much into the loss of one ward in a council."

  13. Walsall: 'Low turnout has not helped' - Conservative leader Mike Bird

    Ben Godfrey

    BBC Midlands Today

    Labour are expected to lead Walsall Council with support from the Liberal Democrats. The party gained two seats but the authority remains under no overall control. 

    Video content

    Video caption: Walsall voters' verdict
  14. Newcastle-under-Lyme: No overall control

    James Bovill

    Staffordshire Political Reporter, BBC News

    And now all the scores are in at Newcastle - it's nearly static: Labour gain two to take them to 27 seats, Tories gain one to 21, the Lib Dems lose two leaving them with three seats.

    Independents have six seats, UKIP two and the Green Party has one.

    The council remains under no overall control.

  15. Newcastle-under-Lyme: Coalition may be required

    James Bovill

    Staffordshire Political Reporter, BBC News

    Labour’s overall majority in Newcastle-under-Lyme disappeared in February 2015, and a succession of councillors leaving to sit as Independents had left them some way short of the 31 required for overall control.  

    Reaching that target will be difficult for either of the two largest parties, and with none of the six Independent-held seats being contested, some form of coalition may be required after today’s results.

    Results are not fully in yet but it appears that it will be no overall control.

  16. UKIP make gains in Tamworth

    UKIP gained two seats in Tamworth, taking its total to three, but there was no change in overall control with the Conservatives remaining in charge.

    The Tories have 20 seats, gaining two, and Labour has seven, losing three.

  17. Nuneaton and Bedworth: Recap Labour hold

    Kevin Reide

    Midlands Today

    Labour has retained control of Nuneaton and Bedworth Council. The party lost three seats and the Conservatives gained three. 

    The Green Party held onto the Weddington ward.

    The Nuneaton parliamentary constituency is regarded as a bellwether seat. Labour's failure to win it in the 2015 general election was seen as symbolic of its national failure. 

    Video content

    Video caption: Labour hold Nuneaton and Bedworth
  18. Conservatives retain Solihull

    The Green Party gained two seats and Independents lost two but the Conservatives stay in charge at Solihull.

    Solihull

    The party has 32 seats compared to 10 for the Greens, six for the Lib Dems, two for UKIP and one for Labour.  

  19. Birmingham: Labour wins three quarters of seats

    Total results in for Birmingham City Council. Of the 40 seats up: Labour 30, Conservative 7, Liberal Democrats three.

    Birmingham City Council's make-up is now Conservative 29, Labour 80, Liberal Democrat 10 and others one.  

  20. Dudley: How Labour lost overall control

    The Conservatives gained two, and UKIP gained one seat, leaving Labour unable to achieve an overall majority.

    Infographic showing how Labour lost overall control of Dudley

    Anne Millward, senior Conservative on Dudley Council, tells BBC WM that they will not work with UKIP – but would consider coming to some form of arrangement with Labour.