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Live Reporting

Sam Francis, Angela Harrison and Georgina Pattinson

All times stated are UK

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  1. Goodbye

    Lynette Horsburgh

    BBC News

    And with the announcement that the final result is in, that's it for our election coverage.

    Thanks for joining us for what was a very interesting night and day.

  2. Final seat declared

    That's it - the very last seat of the 2015 general election has been declared.

    David Cameron

    Conservatives have taken St Ives in Cornwall from the Lib Dems, with Derek Thomas securing 18,491 votes.

    Nationally, the Tories have a majority of 12 MPs after the results in all 650 seats were announced.

  3. Wirral Council

    Labour hold

    Wirral Council remains under Labour with the party making one gain from the Liberal Democrats.

  4. Ribble Valley

    Conservative hold

    Ribble Valley Borough Council remains Conservative.

    The party hasn't made any gains but Labour have gained one seat from Lib Dem.

  5. Rossendale Council

    Labour mayor loses seat

    Tim Padfield

    BBC Radio Lancashire

    In one early declaration in Rossendale, the Labour mayor Tom Aldred has lost his seat to the Conservatives and there's been another Conservative gain in Rossendale - in the Cribden ward - by just eight votes.

  6. Bolton Council

    Labour hold

    Bolton Council remains under Labour control after the party won all 14 seats it was defending.

    UKIP gained a seat at the expense of the Conservatives.

  7. David Cameron pledges a 'greater Britain'

    David Cameron has promised to lead a government for "one nation" and make "Great Britain greater" as he returned to Downing Street as prime minister.

    David Cameron talking outside 10 Downing Street

    Speaking outside No 10 after visiting Buckingham Palace, he said the UK was "on the brink of something special".

    The Conservatives have 330 seats - four more than needed for a Commons majority - their first such victory since 1992.

  8. Knowsley Council

    Labour hold

    Knowsley Council wards have now been declared - with Labour successfully defending 22 seats.

  9. Labour 'way off pace' in North West

    BBC North West Tonight

    Liverpool University's Professor Jon Tonge says Labour was "way off the pace" in the region although it claimed the notable scalp of Conservative employment minister Esther McVey in the Wirral West constituency.

    He also says Leigh's Andy Burnham is "in pole position" in the new race to be Labour leader while Westmorland & Lonsdale's Tim Farron was "the only obvious successor" and a "shoo-in" to replace the outgoing Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg.

  10. Hyndburn Council

    Labour hold

    Hyndburn Council has been held by Labour, with two gains in seats previously held by independents.

  11. MP 'genuinely humbled'

    Sally Naden

    BBC Radio Lancashire presenter

    Rosie Cooper was emotional after she doubled her majority in Lancashire West.

    Rosie Cooper

    The re-elected Labour MP told me she was "absolutely delighted" but "genuinely humbled" by her majority of 8,360.

  12. Oldham Council

    Labour hold

    Oldham Council remains under Labour control after it successfully defended all its seats.

  13. Liverpool City Council

    Labour hold

    Liverpool City Council remains under Labour control. The ruling party gained three seats one each from Lib Dem, Liberal and Independent.

  14. Trafford Council

    Conservative hold

    The Tories have held on to Trafford Council with a majority of five seats.

  15. Bolton West

    MP wins after 'knife-edge' count

    Conservative Chris Green has said he was on a "knife-edge" as the votes were counted for the Bolton West constituency.

    Chris Green

    He took the seat from Labour's Julie Ann Hilling with a majority of 801.

    He said: "Looking at the bundles - I couldn't call it."

    Labour also won the seat narrowly at the last general election after several recounts.

  16. Coming up

    Annabel Tiffin

    Presenter, North West Tonight

    On the lunchtime show... we bring you all the news on the region's results in the general election.

    The Conservatives hold key seats but Employment Minister Ester McVey loses out, Labour falls short in targets across the region, missing out from High Peak to Pendle, Weaver Vale to Bury North and the Lib Dems all but disappear with four of their six MPs are defeated.

    Watch more on BBC One at 13:30/18:30

  17. Burnham bookies' favourite

    Andy Burnham, who has been re-elected as MP for Leigh, is the joint favourite to become the new Labour leader by bookmakers.

    Andy Burnham and Ed Miliband

    The shadow health secretary is the the top pick, alongside Streatham MP Chuka Umunna, with his odds currently standing between 2/1 and 9/2.

  18. Knowsley local election count underway

    Knowsley Council tweets: Counting now underway in the #Knowsley#LE2015

    Knowsley Council local election count
  19. 'Buck stops' with Ed Miliband

    Labour MP Simon Danczuk, who comfortably held his seat in Rochdale, said Ed Miliband's Labour campaign had the "wrong personnel in place" and focused on the "wrong policies".

    Simon Danczuk, Labour Rochdale

    He said the "buck stops" with Ed Miliband and that he is looking forward to having a "sensible and orderly leadership election campaign."

  20. Lancaster and Fleetwood

    Cat that got the cream

    Tim Padfield

    BBC Radio Lancashire

    A very happy Cat Smith after becoming the new Lancaster and Fleetwood MP with a majority of 1265.

    Catherine Smith
  21. Mayor Anderson: Tory win 'devastating' for Liverpool

    Liverpool Echo

    Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson has today warned of the "devastating" impact of five more years of Tory policies.

    Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson

    He said the city would continue to be decimated by swingeing cuts and that by 2017 the council would be unable to provide anything but bare minimum services.

  22. Liverpool local election count underway

    Liverpool Council tweets: Counting in 2015 #localelections getting underway. We'll tweet the winning party for each ward. More info will be at: ow.ly/MGxav

  23. BreakingClegg resigns

    @BBCBreaking

    Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg confirms he is resigning as Lib Dem leader after his party suffered what he called a "crushing" defeat in a general election.

    Nick Clegg
  24. Little change in Lancashire

    Little has changed in Lancashire's political landscape.

    Labour made two gains with Catherine Smith taking the seat from the Conservatives in Lancaster and & Fleetwood - and Julie Cooper winning Burnley from the Liberal Dem's Gordon Birtwistle.

    Julie Cooper

    In total, Labour kept hold of six seats in the county while the Tories retained eight.

  25. Tameside has first woman MP

    In Ashton-under-Lyne, Labour held the seat with the electorate choosing the first female MP in Tameside's history.

    Angela Rayner

    Angela Rayner succeeded David Heyes who stood down for health reasons and won with almost 50% of the vote.

    She praised for her fellow female candidates saying they were "all fantastic candidates who had a fantastic campaign".

  26. Bring me sunshine

    Re-elected Conservative MP for Morecambe and Lunesdale David Morris referred to the late comedian Eric Morecambe from the resort in his acceptance speech.

    David Morris

    He promised to "bring the sunshine back" to the area after he retained the seat with a majority of 4,590.

    'Bring Me Sunshine' was the theme tune to the Morecambe and Wise TV show.

  27. 'You ain't seen the last of me yet!'

    The Conservatives' employment minister Esther McVey has been speaking after being ousted from her Wirral West seat by Labour.

    Esther McVey

    She said: "I was the only Conservative MP on Merseyside and it shows we have a lot more to do.

    "You have your highs and lows in politics, but I'm going to pick myself up, dust myself down, and I'm going back out there to become an MP because I believe in the Conservative party and all it stands for - you ain't seen the last of me yet!"

  28. What happened in Cheshire

    In case you have missed the results in Cheshire, Labour defeated the Conservatives in the City of Chester by the narrowest of margins, with two recounts required.

    The Chester count

    Chris Matheson becomes MP for the constituency, with Conservative Stephen Mosley losing out by just 93 votes.

    However, the Conservatives held all their other Cheshire seats, with Crewe & Nantwich, Congleton, Macclesfield, Weaver Vale, Eddisbury and Warrington South all remaining resolutely blue.

  29. Merseyside winners

    In case you've missed the results , Labour have had a successful night in Merseyside turning the area into a Tory-free zone.

    Esther McVey

    They didn't lose a seat and took the scalp of the Conservative's employment minister Esther McVey in Wirral West.

    Labour's Margaret Greenwood secured victory by just over 400 votes.

  30. Mixed night for Straw family

    Newly elected Blackburn MP Kate Hollern says her predecessor Jack Straw will be "over the moon" she increased his majority for Labour by 2,904.

    Kate Hollern

    Mr Straw had been the town's MP since 1979 before he recently retired.

    However, the news wasn't so good for Mr Straw's son. Will Straw, Labour's candidate for the Rossendale & Darwen constituency failed in his bid to unseat Conservative Jake Berry.

  31. Miliband compared to Gerrard's slip

    Metro

    Ed Miliband is being compared to Liverpool's Steven Gerrard on social media, after Labour's General Election 2015 slip-up.

    Steven Gerrard

    The Metro says despite putting himself into a 3-0 early lead, Miliband's election turned into Liverpool's failed title bid from last season.

  32. Andy Burnham a fair bet?

    Jon Tonge, politics professor at University of Liverpool, tweets: Andy Burnham 9/4 to be next Labour leader. A fair price. #GE2015

  33. BreakingMiliband 'to quit as leader'

    @BBCBreaking

    Ed Miliband set to quit as Labour leader after poor #GE2015 performance, sources tell BBC bbc.co.uk/electionlive

    Ed Miliband
  34. What can Esther McVey do now?

    Liverpool Echo

    What are the options for Esther McVey now she has lost her Wirral West seat?

    Esther McVey

    The Tory minister, 47, refused ahead of the election to talk about what her future might hold if she is beaten by Labour - but the Liverpool Echo has come up with a few suggestions.

  35. A hard day's night

    BBC Radio Lancashire

    It has been a long night but spare a thought for those people who were up through the wee small hours counting the votes.

    Counters in South Ribble

    Some counters at South Ribble are looking forward to getting to their beds today!

  36. BreakingCrewe & Nantwich

    Conservative Hold

    Edward Timpson holds the Conservative seat in Crewe & Nantwich with a decreased majority of 3,620.

  37. Cheadle

    'Swimming against the tide'

    Liberal Democrat Mark Hunter lost his Cheadle seat saying: "Sometimes you have to accept that you can't swim against the national tide."

    Mark Hunter

    Mary Robinson gained the seat for the Tories with a majority of 6453.

  38. BreakingCongleton

    Conservative Hold

    The Conservatives hold Congleton as Fiona Bruce is re-elected with a majority of 16,773 - a 9,710 increase.

  39. Lancaster and Fleetwood

    Defeated Ollerenshaw's reaction

    Conservative Eric Ollerenshaw who failed to retain his Lancaster and Fleetwood said he hoped he "hadn't let anyone down" after a "long and hard battle".

    Eric Ollerenshaw

    Labour's Catherine Smith gained the seat with a majority of 1,265.

  40. BreakingStalybridge & Hyde

    Labour Hold

    Jonathan Reynolds re-elected as the Labour MP for Stalybridge & Hyde with a majority of 6,686 - a 3,942 increase.

  41. Stalybridge & Hyde

    Sleeping through it all

    We still haven't had verification in Stalybridge and Hyde but at least MP Jonathan Reynolds' nine-week-old baby Seth is managing to sleep through the boredom.

    Jonathan Reynolds with baby

    "He's been on the campaign trail since he was seven weeks old. He was door-stepping for 12 hours one day this week," said Mr Reynolds.

  42. BreakingMacclesfield

    Conservative Hold

    David Rutley is re-elected as the Conservative MP for Macclesfield, increasing his majority by 2,852 to 14,811.

  43. BreakingDenton & Reddish

    Labour Hold

    Labour's Andrew Gwynne holds his seat in Denton & Reddish after being re-elected with a majority of 10,511 - an increase of 680.

  44. Macclesfield

    Result imminent

    BBC Radio Manchester

    tweets: #GE2015MANC Result imminent for Macclesfield. Turn-out 69.51%

  45. Lancaster and Fleetwood

    New MP praises predecessor

    Labour's Catherine Smith, who took Lancaster and Fleetwood from Conservatives with a majority of 1,265, has paid tribute to her predecessor Eric Ollerenshaw's work in the constituency.

    The MP elect said she would represent and champion the people of Lancaster and Fleetwood "to the best of my ability".

  46. BreakingMorecambe & Lunesdale

    Conservative Hold

    The final result for Lancashire sees Conservative David Morris re-elected for Morecambe & Lunesdale with an increased majority of 3,724.

  47. BreakingAshton-under-Lyne

    Labour Hold

    Angela Rayner holds the Labour seat in Ashton-under-Lyne with a majority of 10,756 - an increase of 1,662.

  48. BreakingLancaster & Fleetwood

    Labour Gain

    Labour's Catherine Smith has taken Lancaster & Fleetwood from the Conservative's Eric Ollerenshaw with a majority of 1,265.

  49. Lancaster and Lunesdale

    Bundles recounted

    Tim Padfield, BBC Radio Lanashire at Salt Ayre

    We thought the Lancaster and Fleetwood result was imminent but the bundles are being recounted to make sure they tally.

    It isn't a full recount so it isn't super close but they are checking the bundles tally.

    The mood has changed here though - the Conservative candidate Eric Ollerenshaw is looking rather glum but the Labour candidate Catherine Smith is looking cagey, too.

  50. Wirral South

    Labour Hold

    Alison McGovern re-elected for the Labour seat in Wirral South with a majority of 4,599, an increase of 4,068.

  51. Merseyside a 'Tory-free zone'

    Labour's Bill Esterson who held Sefton Central tweets: Merseyside is a Tory free zone. We have to take a leading role in fighting the Tories and their disastrous plans for the country

  52. Cheadle

    No interviews

    BBC Radio Manchester

    After Mary Robinson wins for the Tories in Cheadle, former Lib Dem MP Mark Hunter makes a short speech but refuses to do media interviews.

  53. Recount in Lancaster & Fleetwood

    Beccy Meehan

    North West Tonight

    Lancaster & Fleetwood recount is underway... #GE2015

    Lancaster & Fleetwood count

    Remember, last time it was 333 votes between Lab and Cons.

  54. Bootle

    Labour hold off UKIP

    Tom Airey

    BBC News

    Labour hold Bootle, with Sefton council leader Peter Dowd becoming MP and winning a massive majority with 33,619 of the votes.

    UKIP deputy leader Paul Nuttall came in second, but was way behind with 4,915 votes.

  55. City of Chester

    Razor thin majority

    Phil McCann

    Cheshire political reporter, BBC News

    The final numbers in Chester - razor thin Labour majority:

    Chester
  56. Warrington South

    More disappointment for Labour

    Arif Ansari

    Political editor, North West

    Tories hold Warrington South. Another disappointing result for Labour. It was their number-4 target in NW. #GE2015

  57. Morecambe and Lunesdale

    A key seat for the Tories?

    Tim Padfield

    BBC Radio Lancashire

    David Morris who is hoping to retain the Morecambe and Lunesdale seat for Conservatives is looking confident.

    He had a majority of 866 in the last general election.

    If I had to put my money on it, I think, if he can retain this seat, it could put the Tories back in power.

  58. BreakingWarrington South

    Conservative Hold

    David Mowat retains the Conservative seat in Warrington South, increasing his majority by 1,197 to 2,750.

  59. Hyndburn

    Graham Jones 'pleased and humbled'

    Labour's Graham Jones says he is "tired but pleased and most of all humbled" to have held on to his Hyndburn seat in Lancashire.

    Graham Jones MP

    He won with a majority of 4,400 an increase of 1,310 on the 2010 general election.

  60. BreakingCity of Chester

    Labour Gain

    Labour's Chris Matheson takes the City of Chester from Conservative Stephen Mosley with a narrow 93 majority.

  61. Greater Manchester: Results update

    Tom Mullen

    BBC News

    Here's a round-up of some key developments across Greater Manchester, where the Labour Party have taken Manchester Withington from the Liberal Democrats with a huge majority.

    John Leech

    On a bad night for the Liberal Democrats, they also lost Cheadle and Hazel Grove to the Tories who also took their number one North West target of Bolton West from Labour.

    Labour held on to Heywood & Middleton, successfully fending off a challenge from second-placed UKIP.

  62. Sandwiches out in Salt Ayre

    Tim Padfield

    BBC Radio Lancashire at Salt Ayre

    Well more sandwiches have come out at Salt Ayre Sports Centre so we're not expecting the results of the Lancaster and Fleetwood and Morecambe and Lunesdale anytime soon.

    They might be one of the closest contested seats in Lancashire but they are also the slowest to count.

    The word here is that we won't find out who has won for about an hour, possibly as late as 09:00.

  63. BreakingCheadle

    Conservative Gain

    Conservative Mary Robinson takes the Cheadle seat from the Lib Dem's Mark Hunter with a 6,453 majority.

  64. Cheadle

    Result coming in

    CHEADLE RESULT coming in soon ... #GE2015

  65. Ribble Valley

    Thrilled with 'thumping majority'

    Conservative's Nigel Evans says he was absolutely thrilled to hold on to his seat in the Ribble Valley, particularly after a high profile court case last year in which he was cleared of a string of sex abuse charges.

    Nigel Evans

    "Two years ago I went through hell and the people and prime minister stood by me and today my constituents have stood by me and gave me a thumping majority I could never have dreamt of," he said.

    Mr Evans, who won with a majority of 13,606, said his ninth election makes him the longest serving Tory MP in the North West.

  66. Chester

    So close in Chester

    Arif Ansari

    Political editor, North West

    I'm being told there are about 70 votes in the Chester result. Possible second recount. #GE2015

  67. BreakingTatton

    Conservative Hold

    George Osborne keeps his Conservative seat in Tatton increasing his majority by 3,754 to 18,241

  68. BreakingWeaver Vale

    Conservative Hold

    Conservative Graham Evans is re-elected in Weaver Vale with a majority of just 806 over Labour's Julia Tickridge.

  69. Cheadle

    Still waiting

    BBC Radio Manchester

    Still waiting for the result in Cheadle. We should get one soon. Expect a Conservative gain.

  70. Warrington South

    Too close to call

    Arif Ansari

    Political editor, North West

    Labour says Warrington South is too close to call. Tories say they think they've just won. #GE2015

  71. Find your election result

    Election 2015

    Find your #GE2015 result here http://bbc.in/1H1TnVv or use our @BBCElectionBot service http://bbc.in/1D8QkGJ

    Election 2015 chart
  72. BreakingWarrington North

    Labour Hold

    Labour's Helen Jones retains the seat of Warrington North increasing her majority by 2,152 to 8,923.

  73. Elected for a fifth time

    Labour's Gordon Marsden tweets: Proud to be elected for the 5th time by the people of Blackpool South with increased majority. Huge thanks my Labour team & ctty volunteers

    Gordon Marsden
  74. Another recount in Chester?

    Phil McCann

    Cheshire political reporter, BBC News

    Possibility of another recount here in #Chester - VERY VERY close

  75. Liverpool counts are finished

    BBC Radio Merseyside tweets: The last count @LiverpoolTC is declared & already the vote counters have disappeared to put on their PJs #GE2015.

    Labour winners in Liverpool

    The winning Labour candidates (from left to right) are: Steve Rotheram, Luciana Berger Louise Ellman, Maria Eagle, and Stephen Twigg.

  76. BreakingSouth Ribble

    Conservative Hold

    Conservative's Seema Kennedy holds South Ribble with a majority of 5,945 over Labour

  77. BreakingStretford & Urmston

    Labour Hold

    Kate Green has retained the seat of Stretford & Urmston in Greater Manchester increasing her majority by 2,750 to 11,685.

  78. City of Chester

    Recount under way

    Phil McCann

    Cheshire political reporter, BBC News

    Recount under way in Chester - looks like it could come down to 50 votes

    Votes being counted in Chester
  79. Chester

    Possible Tory loss?

    Arif Ansari

    Political editor, North West

    Tory sources think they have lost Chester. Labour's number-9 target in the region. #GE2015

  80. BreakingStockport

    Labour Hold

    Labour's Ann Coffey holds Stockport with a majority of 10,061.

  81. BreakingSefton Central

    Labour Hold

    Labour's Bill Esterson is re-relected in the Sefton Central seat with a majority of 11,846.

  82. BreakingBolton North East

    Labour Hold

    Labour's David Crausby retains Bolton North East with a majority of 4,377

  83. BreakingManchester Central

    Labour Hold

    Lucy Powell retains Manchester Central with an increased majority of 18,639.

  84. BreakingRibble Valley

    Conservative Hold

    Conservative Nigel Evans holds Ribble Valley with a reduced majority of 13,606

  85. BreakingSalford & Eccles

    Labour Hold

    Labour's Rebecca Long-Bailey holds Salford & Eccles with a majority of 12,541.

  86. North West round-up

    Seats to change hands so far

    Emma Stanley

    BBC North West News Online

    Labour have gained Burnley and Manchester Withington from the Lib Dems, and Wirral West from the Conservatives.

    The Tories won Bolton West from Labour and Hazel Grove from the Lib Dems.

  87. BreakingBlackpool North and Cleveleys

    Conservative Hold

    Conservative Paul Maynard retains Blackpool North & Cleveleys with an increased 3,340 majority.

  88. BreakingEllesmere Port & Neston

    Labour Hold

    Labour's Justin Madders wins for Labour in Ellesmere Port & Neston with a majority of 6,275.

  89. BreakingFylde

    Conservative Hold

    Conservative Mark Menzies retains Fylde with a majority of 13,224.

  90. BreakingOldham East & Saddleworth

    Labour Hold

    Labour's Debbie Abrahams is re-elected in the Oldham East & Saddleworth seat with a majority of 6,002 and swing of 4%.

  91. Hazel Grove

    Conservative winner

    Conservative winner William Wragg makes his acceptance speech after winning Hazel Grove from the Liberal Democrats with a 6,552 majority.

    William Wragg
  92. BreakingWyre and Preston North

    Conservative Hold

    Tory Ben Wallace retains Wyre and Preston North with a reduced majority.

  93. BreakingManchester Withington

    Labour Gain

    Jeff Smith beats Lib Dem John Leech to win Manchester Withington for Labour.

  94. BreakingLiverpool Walton

    Labour Hold

    Steve Rotheram retains Liverpool Walton for Labour with an increased majority.

  95. BreakingEddisbury

    Conservative Hold

    Antoinette Sandbach holds Eddisbury for Conservative Party. New MP for constituency after previous MP Steven O'Brien steps down to take another post.

  96. BreakingHazel Grove

    Conservative Gain

    William Wragg wins Hazel Grove for the Tories with a majority of 6,552 and a swing of 15.2% from the Lib Dems,

  97. Rochdale

    Danczuk 'humbled'

    Bronwyn Jones

    BBC Radio Manchester

    Labour's Simon Danczuk says he is "pleased and humbled" to have held Rochdale for Labour by increasing his majority to 12,442.

    Rochdale

    He says it is the largest majority in the constituency's history.

    He won with 20,961 votes, with UKIP coming second on 8,519.

  98. BreakingBolton West

    Conservative Gain

    Chris Green beats Julie Hilling to win Bolton West for the Conservatives.

  99. BreakingBury North

    Conservative Hold

    Conservative David Nuttall retains Bury North after a recount.

  100. Sefton Central

    Final furlong?

    BBC Radio Merseyside

    Sun coming up at Aintree racecourse but still no result at Sefton Central. Must be in the final furlong now! #GE2015

    Aintree
  101. BreakingHigh Peak

    Conservative Hold

    Conservative Andrew Bingham retains High Peak

  102. Weaver Vale

    Declaration time

    BBC North West Tonight reporter Mark Edwardson

    Update from Weaver Vale constituency - declaration now expected at 0600. Likely to be close - was one of Lab's top targets @BBCNWT

  103. BreakingBlackpool South

    Labour Hold

    Gordon Marsden holds Blackpool South for Labour with a majority of 2,585.

  104. BreakingWirral West

    Labour Gain

    Labour's Margaret Greenwood takes Wirral West from Conservative Esther McVey with a majority of 417, a swing of 3.6%

  105. BreakingManchester Gorton

    Labour Hold

    Labour's Gerald Kaufman retains Manchester Gorton with an increased majority of 2,585.

  106. BreakingPendle

    Conservative Hold

    Andrew Stephenson retains Pendle with an increased majority for the Conservatives.

  107. Bury North

    Declaration time

    BBC Radio Manchester:

    Bury North result expected about 05:30 after recount.#GE2015MANC

  108. Salford and Eccles

    Declaration imminent

    BBC Radio Manchester

    The Salford results are imminent. We've a recount of 4 wards in Worsley and Eccles South, that's now completed. Odds and ends to tie up.

  109. BreakingOldham West & Royton

    Labour Hold

    Labour's Michael Meacher retains Oldham West & Royton with a majority of 14,738

  110. BreakingSt Helens North

    Labour Hold

    Labour's Conor McGinn retains St Helens North with a majority of 12,067

  111. Stockport

    Declaration time

    Charlotte Green for Mancunian Matters:

    More votes have appeared that need to be counted - Stockport result looks to be pushed past 5am

  112. BreakingLiverpool Riverside

    Labour Hold

    Louise Ellman retains Liverpool Riverside for Labour, with a 24,463 majority.

  113. Lib Dem focus

    Losses nationally

    Rachael Connors

    BBC News Online

    We have one Lib Dem loss in the North West, with Labour snatching back Burnley.

    Southport remains a splash of yellow on the map.

    Nationally, though, the Lib Dems have had a dreadful night, with Business Secretary Vince Cable the latest major scalp.

    You can click here for the national picture.

  114. BreakingSouthport

    Lib Dem Hold

    John Pugh holds seat for Liberal Democrats in Southport, despite losing 8,055 votes.

    Mr Pugh won with a reduced majority of just more than 1,300 votes.

    He said it was time for the party to reflect on how it moves forward after devastating losses across the country.

  115. Ribble Valley

    Conservatives likely to hold?

    Jon Robinson for Lancashire Telegraph:

    Cons have at least 16,500 now, Labour 8,000 and UKIP 4,500. Lib Dems still less than 500 #LTelection #ribblevalley

  116. BreakingLancashire West

    Labour Hold

    Rosie Cooper keeps Lancashire West for Labour.

  117. Chester

    Very close!

    Phil McCann

    Cheshire political reporter, BBC News

    It's looking extremely close between Tories and Labour in #Chester. The pink cards represent 500 votes.

    Chester
  118. BreakingBlackley & Broughton

    Labour Hold

    Labour's Graham Stringer retains Blackley & Broughton. UKIP win second place.

  119. Manchester Withington

    Lib Dem lose to Labour?

    Jennifer Williams for the MEN reports: BREAKING: John Leech concedes Withington

  120. Wirral West

    Labour to snatch seat from Tories?

    Arif Ansari

    Political editor, North West

    Labour think they have narrowly beaten Conservative minister Esther McVey in Wirral West. There is a recount under way.

  121. Birkenhead

    Labour will 'learn lessons' nationally

    Naomi Cornwell

    North West Tonight

    Labour's Frank Field says "we need to learn lessons and unite rather than divide our country" @BBCNWT @bbcmerseyside #GE2015

  122. Manchester Withington

    More misery for Lib Dems?

    BBC Radio Manchester tweets: Turnout Manchester Withington: 67.8% It's the highest in Manchester. Lab set to continue the Lib Dem misery by taking the seat.

  123. Wirral West

    Recount

    BBC North West Tonight reporter Naomi Cornwell:

    Recount in Wirral West @BBCNWT @bbcmerseyside #GE2015

  124. BreakingChorley

    Lab Hold

    Labour's Lindsey Hoyle keeps his seat with an increased majority.

  125. Liverpool

    Greens confident

    Confidence from @TheGreenParty candidates @MartinDobsonGP and @PeterCranie #GE215

    Confident Greens in Liverpool
    Image caption: Confident Greens in Liverpool
  126. Weaver Vale

    Declaration time

    Cheshire West:

    Update from the Weaver Vale count in Northwich. Turnout is 69.4% and anticipated declaration time is 5am

  127. Worsley and Eccles South

    Declaration time

    We're expecting a result from 04:30

  128. Stockport

    Nervy night for Lib Dems

    BBC Radio Manchester ‏@bbcradiomanc

    Counting well under way in Stockport. Plenty of nervous Lib Dems here.

  129. Warrington seats

    Declaration times

    bbcmerseyside ‏@bbcmerseyside

    Results for the two seats, North and South, expected between 4am and 5.30.

    Warrington seats expected to declare between 4am and 5:30am
    Image caption: Warrington seats expected to declare between 4am and 5:30am
  130. St Helens North

    Declaration imminent

    Tom Belger for the Liverpool Echo:

    Results in St. Helens now apparently likely in next 10 minutes #ge2015

  131. Salford & Eccles

    Greens hopeful

    Elliot Smith from Mancunian Matters:

    Emma Van Dyke: It's looking like we are going to keep our deposits, which is a good sign #GreenParty

  132. Macclesfield

    NO hacks allowed

    BBC Radio Manchester

    #GE2015MANC no chance of chatting with the agents/candidates here in Macclesfield

    Media out sign
  133. Bury North

    Recount

    BBC Radio Manchester:

    Sources say only 122 votes separate Cons & Lab in #Bury North

    FULL RECOUNT IN BURY NORTH ...... #GE2015

  134. Merseyside results

    Summary

    BBC Merseyside:

    8 results so far: Lab holds in Halton, Knowsley, Wallasey, Birkenhead, St Helens South, Bootle, Garston & Halewood, Liverpool Wavertree #GE2015

  135. BreakingBury South

    Labour Hold

    Labour's Ivan Lewis holds Bury South with an increased majority - he returns to parliament for the fifth time.

  136. BreakingPreston

    Labour Hold

    Mark Hendrick holds Preston for Labour.

  137. BreakingLiverpool Wavertree

    Labour Hold

    Labour's Luciana Berger retains Liverpool Wavertree.

  138. BreakingRochdale

    Labour Hold

    Labour's Simon Danczuk retains Rochdale with a majority of 12,442

  139. BreakingHeywood & Middleton

    Labour Hold

    Liz McInnes holds Heywood and Middleton for Labour with a majority of 5,299 with a swing of 13.3% to UKIP.

  140. BreakingGarston and Halewood

    Labour Hold

    Maria Eagle retains Garston and Halewood for Labour with a 27,146 majority.

  141. BreakingHyndburn

    Labour Hold

    Labour's Graham Jones retains Hyndburn with a 4,400 majority.

  142. BreakingSt Helens South & Whiston

    Labour Hold

    Labour's Marie Rimmer retains St Helens South & Whiston with a majority of 21,243 and a swing of 4.4% against the Tories.

  143. BreakingBolton North East

    Labour Hold

    David Crausby holds Bolton North East for Labour.

  144. BreakingBirkenhead

    Labour Hold

    Labour's Frank Field retains Birkenhead with a majority of 20,652 and a swing of 5.6% against the Tories.

  145. Wyre & Preston North

    A tasty ticket!

    Mike Stevens

    One of the voters here in Wyre and Preston North has decided to spoil their ballot paper by taking a bite out of it. #Ge2015LANCS

    The Labour candidate is, incidentally, still trying to claim it. #spoiled #GE2015LANCS

  146. BreakingWallasey

    Labour Hold

    Labour's Angela Eagle retains Wallasey with a significantly increased majority of 16,348.

    That marks a swing of 8.6% from the Tories.

  147. BreakingBootle

    Labour Hold

    Peter Dowd retains Bootle with a 28,704 majority. He succeeds Joe Benton, who retired before the election.

  148. BreakingMakerfield

    Labour Hold

    Labour's Yvonne Fovargue retains Makerfield with a slightly increased majority of 13,155

  149. Via Twitter

    Multi-coloured technology

    Martha Kearney

    Presenter, WATO

    In a hi-tech world it's good to see that the rubber thimble still has a vital role in counting votes!

    Rubber thimbles
  150. Wirral West

    Listen live

    Mairead Smyth

    Political Reporter, BBC Radio Merseyside

    Conservative candidate for Wirral West Esther McVey live with Roger Phillips before declaration #GE2015

    Esther McVey
  151. Westmorland and Lonsdale

    Lib Dems Hold

    Tim Farron keeps Westmorland and Lonsdale for the Liberal Democrats with an 8,849 majority.

  152. BreakingKnowsley

    Labour Hold

    Labour's George Howarth retains the Knowsley seat with a majority of 34,655

  153. Chorley

    Very close?

    Paul O'Gorman

    Tories and Lab look neck and neck in Chorley general election count #GE2015 #bbclancs

    Close in Chorley
    Image caption: Close in Chorley
  154. BreakingWigan

    Labour Hold

    Labour's Lisa Nandy retains Wigan with a majority of 14,236 and a swing of 3.8% from the Conservatives.

  155. Burnley

    'Fantastic result' for Labour

    Labour's victorious candidate in Burnley, Julie Coope,r said her result was a "fantastic end to the day".

    "I have worked for this for a very long time... I promise to give 100% for the people of Burnley," she added.

  156. Hyndburn

    Declaration time

    Freelance journalist Dan Jewell:

    Word is we're around half an hour from a declaration here in #Hyndburn @BBCLancashire #GE2015LANCS

  157. Liverpool

    Turnout up across city

    Turnout's up across Liverpool. Provisional figures show Garston & Halewood at 66% ( 60.1% last time) Riverside 63% (52.1%) Walton 62% (54.8%) Wavertree 67 (60.6%) West Derby 65% ( 56.7%).

  158. Leigh

    'Massive privilege'

    Labour's victorious candidate in Leigh, Andy Burnham, says "Leigh people are the warmest, most decent people you can find in the country" and it is a "massive privilege" to be asked to represent them again.

    Andy Burham MP, Labour shadow minister

    He says Leigh is sending a strong message back to London that things aren't right for working people.

    It is not right people in Leigh have to rely on foodbanks when they work for a living, he adds.

  159. Weaver Vale

    Declaration time

    Cheshire West

    Update from Northwich. The Weaver Vale result is expected around 4.30am #cwacelections

  160. BreakingBlackburn

    Labour Hold

    Labour's Kate Hollern succeeds Jack Straw in Blackburn, taking a 12,760 majority with a 3.7% swing against the Tories.

  161. Wallasey

    Turnout figures

    Reported turnout in Wallasey is 43,542 - or 66.48% of the electorate.

  162. Wirral seats

    Declaration times

    Four Wirral seats of Birkenhead, Wallasey, Wirral West and Wirral South could be declared within next half hour. Much earlier than expected with some candidates not yet at the count!

  163. Blackburn

    Eyes down...

    Andrew Hobbs

    BBC News

    Verification continues at Blackburn.

    Blackburn count
  164. Reds v Blues

    A tough match to call!

    BBC Radio Manchester:

    #GE2015MANC when it comes to table football, at least here in Macclesfield, it's a straight fight between red & blue

    A tough match to call!
    Image caption: A tough match to call!
  165. St Helens seats

    Declaration times

    bbcmerseyside: St Helens seats could be announced by 0400. #GE2015

  166. Labour's fortunes

    'Difficult and disappointing'

    Labour's defeats in Scotland are "difficult and disappointing", said Lucy Powell, vice-chair of the party's election campaign.

    Ms Powell, who is defending Manchester Central, added it was still too early to discuss how the party was faring across England.

  167. Rossendale & Darwen

    Conservatives likely to hold?

    BBC North West political editor Arif Ansari reports:

    Lab sources suggest Will Straw (Jack Straw's son) has not won Rossendale & Darwen. Conservative Jake Berry likely to survive. #GE2015

  168. Knowsley

    Declaration imminent

    Alan Weston at the Liverpool Echo tweets: Looks like we might be in the home straight at #knowsley as candidates gather to be shown spoilt papers. #GE2015

  169. BreakingLeigh

    Labour Hold

    Labour's Andy Burnham retains Leigh with a majority of 14,096

    Result:

    Louisa Townson (Con) 10,216

    Andy Burnham (Lab) 24,312

    Stephen Hall (Left Unity) 542

    Bill Winlow (Lib Dem) 1,150

    Les Leggett (UKIP) 8,903

  170. BreakingBurnley

    Labour Gain

    Labour's Julie Cooper wins the Burnley seat - taking it from the Lib Dems with a swing of 6.3%.

    She has a majority of 3,244

  171. Leigh

    Declaration time

    Leigh declaration has been delayed by 5-10 minutes because of dispute over spoilt ballots

  172. Makerfield

    UKIP on the rise?

    BBC Radio Manchester

    #GE2015MANC Labour's Yvonne Forvargue predicting UKIP will knock the Conservatives out of second place in Makerfield.

  173. Wyre and Preston North

    Declaration time

    Now estimated at 03:30.

  174. Westmorland and Lonsdale

    Lib Dem Tim Farron 'optimistic'

    Martin Lewes

    Still smiling - Tim Farron arrives at the Westmorland and Lonsdale count. @BBC_Cumbria #GE2015

    Tim Farron: Optimistic
    Image caption: Tim Farron: Optimistic
  175. Liverpool Walton

    On air

    BBC Radio Merseyside

    Here at Liverpool Tennis Centre, Labour candidate for Walton Steve Rotheram has been speaking to our reporter Marc Gaier.

    Liverpool count

    Walton is a Labour safe seat, and Mr Rotheram won more than 24,000 votes in 2010, with Lib Dem Pat Moloney coming second, with 4,891 votes.

  176. Lancaster and Fleetwood

    Labour to win?

    The Blackpool Gazette tweets: Exit polls predicting Labour win in marginal Lancaster and Fleetwood seat #GE2015

  177. Conservatives in Liverpool

    Mission impossible?

    Conservative candidates Norsheen Bhatti (Liverpool Walton) and Jackson Ng (Liverpool Riverside) are all smiles despite the fact the Tories have not returned an MP in Liverpool since 1983.

    Norsheen Bhatti and Jackson Ng

    Do they know something the pollsters don't?

  178. Southport

    Declaration time

    Southport result expected in at 4am. Counting yet to begin.

  179. Knowsley

    Declaration time

    Turnout in Knowsley - 64.4%. We should have a result in the next hour or so! #GE2015

    Knowsley declaration expected soon
    Image caption: Knowsley declaration expected soon
  180. Blackburn

    Declaration time

    Phil Cunliffe:

    Declaration could be 3:30am #Blackburn #GE2015LANCS in the meantime..the bar is doing a roaring trade @BBCLancashire

    It's a long night for our reporters
    Image caption: It's a long night for our reporters
  181. Eddisbury

    Declaration time

    Cheshire West:

    Update from Winsford. The Eddisbury count is predicted to declare at 4.30am #cwacelectionsm #cwacelections

  182. Heywood and Middleton

    Declaration time

    Latest estimate is 03:30 for the result.

  183. Wirral West

    Turnout increase

    BBC Radio Merseyside

    The turnout in Wirral West has increased from 72% in 2010 to 76%. Employment minister Esther McVey is hoping to hold on to the seat as the only Conservative MP on Merseyside.

    Esther McVey
  184. Election quiz

    Test your election night knowledge

    The voting's over - have you stayed the course during the campaign, or has it sent you to sleep?

    Dog waits outside polling station

    Test your knowledge of the quotes, gaffes, stumbles and surprises of the 2015 general election on the Magazine's quiz.

  185. Wirral West and Wirral South

    Declaration times

    Wirral West and Wirral South counts due at 05:00.

  186. Lancashire West

    Whatever gets you through the night

    BBC Radio Lancashire tweets: Helping us get through the early hours in ormskirk at the count #GE2015LANCS

    Ormskirk count
  187. BreakingHalton

    Labour Hold

    Labour's Derek Twigg wins the Halton seat with a majority of 20,285 and a swing of 3.8% from the Tories.

  188. UK latest

    SNP make huge gains

    Rachael Connors

    BBC News Online

    Very soon we'll have some North West results coming in but first we need to tell you about a big result in Scotland.

    Labour's Shadow Foreign Secretary Douglas Alexander has lost his seat of Paisley and Renfrewshire South.

    SNP candidate Mhairi Black, 20, overturned a 16,614 majority with a huge 26.9% swing

    You can keep across the latest national results here.

  189. Leigh

    Declaration within next 15 minutes

    BBC Radio Manchester report: Results from #Leigh due in next 15 minutes - listen live http://bbc.in/radiomanc #GE2015MANC

  190. Burnley

    Declaration time

    BBC Lancashire

    Counting is well under way in Burnley. We're expecting a result about 03:30.

    Result due at 3:30am in Burnley
    Image caption: Result due at 3:30am in Burnley
  191. Manchester Withington

    Lib Dems under threat?

    BBC North West Tonight's Judy Hobson tweets: Glum faces among Lib Dems here at Manchester Velodrome. Still no result on Manchester Withington. But Labour say they're feeling confident #GE0215

  192. Heywood & Middleton

    UKIP v Labour

    Arif Ansari

    Political editor, North West

    UKIP think they have not taken Heywood and Middleton from Labour - their only priority target in the NW. #GE2015

  193. Bury North

    Labour to gain from Tories?

    Arif Ansari

    Political editor, North West

    Labour think they are ahead in Bury North and will take from Tories. It's their number-7 target in the NW. #GE2015

    Result expected between 03:00 and 03:30 BST.

  194. Halton

    Declaration time

    The candidates in Halton are inspecting the spoilt ballots. A declaration is expected soon. Labour are confident that they will comfortably hold this safe seat.

    Examining spoiled ballots
  195. Bolton West

    Declaration time

    Rosaleen Fenton at Mancunian Matters:

    Bolton West not expected until 4:30 at the earliest

  196. Leigh

    Declaration time

    BBC Radio Manchester

    The turnout for Leigh has come in at 59.6%. We are expecting a result at approximately 3am #GE2015MANC

  197. Weaver Vale

    Counting to start shortly

    Freelance journalist Louise Bolotin reports:

    Grapevine at #WeaverVale suggests high turnout of more than 70%. Count will start at 2.30am

  198. Blackpool

    A count of two halves

    Steve Becker

    BBC Radio Lancashire

    I'm here at Blackpool Sports Centre in Stanley Park where the votes are being counted for the Blackpool North & Cleveleys and the Blackpool South constituencies.

    Sport could play a part in Blackpool South where Blackpool FC supporter Andy Higgins is campaigning to change the law over football club ownership.

    More than 2,000 fans demonstrated in the constituency at the weekend against the Oyston family's running of the Tangerines.

  199. Knowsley

    Can anybody challenge Labour here?

    Kit MacDonald

    BBC Radio Merseyside

    I'm here in Knowsley where the counting is well under way - we should have results in just a couple of hours' time.

    It has been a Labour stronghold since its creation back in 1983, and is considered as one of the safest seats in the country.

  200. Salford

    Count begins

    BBC Radio Manchester

    Ballot boxes are arriving at the @AJBell_Stadium for the Salford counts. #GE2015

    Count begins at Salford
    Image caption: Count begins at Salford
  201. Halton

    Declaration time

    Turnout in Halton up 2% from last election to 62%. Full result expected within the next hour.

  202. Liverpool

    Labour's clean sweep?

    Marc Gaier

    BBC Radio Merseyside

    Labour is expecting a clean sweep of all five seats in Liverpool.

    There will be plenty of interest in who comes second with the Greens putting in a strong show in Riverside while UKIP are thought to have found support in both Walton and West Derby.

  203. UK picture

    Exit poll predictions and latest results

    Rachael Connors

    BBC News Online

    Here's the story so far across the country:

    • Exit poll suggests the standing of the parties will be Conservative 316, Labour 239, SNP 58, Lib Dems 10 , Plaid Cymru 4, UKIP 2, Greens 2, Others 19
    • The exit poll suggests the Conservatives will be short of an overall majority by 10 seats
    • If the exit poll is correct, the SNP will win all but one of 59 seats in Scotland
    • So far, Labour has won nine seats, the Conservatives four, the DUP has two, Sinn Féin has one, SDLP has one.
  204. Hazel Grove & Cheadle

    Lib Dems fear defeat in both seats

    Arif Ansari

    Political editor, North West

    Lib Dem sources think they have lost both Hazel Grove and Cheadle. Even Southport is at risk with UKIP and the Tories challenging.

  205. A load of rubbish?

    Via Twitter

    BBC Radio Merseyside

    Even all the waste from each polling station is brought to the count location to ensure nothing is missed #GE2015

    Rubbish
  206. Liverpool Riverside

    Profile

    Embracing the city centre and the banks of the Mersey, Liverpool Riverside includes both the run-down docks and the regenerated waterfront, including Albert Dock and Festival Gardens. It also contains the inner-city area of Toxteth.

    Liverpool Riverside constituency

    Labour's Louise Ellman has held the seat since 1997 and won 59.3% of the vote at the 2010 election. The Lib Dems came second with 22.7% and the Conservatives third with 10.9%. The Greens are hoping being opposition on Liverpool Council will boost their chances.

  207. Rochdale

    Profile

    Labour's Simon Danczuk won the seat in 2010, just 889 votes ahead of the Lib Dems.

    Rochdale & Littleborough

    This former mill town and textile centre was hit by the decline of the industry and continues to suffer from high unemployment. The birthplace of the co-operative movement, efforts to regenerate Rochdale, in Greater Manchester, continue.

    There are distribution centres and high-tech businesses at the Kingsway business park. The M62 runs through the seat and there is a new tramlink to central Manchester. But the town has suffered from shrinking manufacturing jobs and much low-wage employment.

  208. Manchester Withington

    Labour confident of regaining Lib Dem seat

    BBC North West Tonight correspondent Judy Hobson:

    Labour source tells me they are feeling confident of taking back Manchester Withington. They think turnout higher than last time. #GE2015

  209. Salford & Eccles

    Bez up for '24-hour party'

    Martin Emery

    BBC News

    Former Happy Mondays star Mark 'Bez' Berry has arrived at the City of Salford Stadium. He is standing as a candidate for the We Are Reality Party.

    Bez
  210. Reading the tiddlywinks

    BBC Radio Lancashire

    Paul Burnell

    BBC News

    We may be in a high-tech era of online polls but our colleagues at BBC Radio Lancashire devised a decidedly low-tech way of gauging public opinion.

    Tiddlywinks

    People around the county were asked to place tiddlywinks in containers representing different issues.

    And according to this survey the NHS was the most important issue for people in the Red Rose county.

  211. Burnley

    Declaration time

    MsGillD:

    The count begins in #Burnley. Result predicted at 3.30 #GE2015

    Burnely result expected at 3:30am
    Image caption: Burnely result expected at 3:30am
  212. Oldham East & Saddleworth

    Profile

    Oldham East & Saddleworth was one of the more closely fought seats of the 2010 election. Labour's Phil Woolas was just 103 votes ahead of the Lib Dems.

    But after the result was overturned by a special election court, Labour's Debbie Abrahams won a by-election with a more comfortable majority of 3,558 in 2011.

    Saddleworth

    Despite its name, Oldham East and Saddleworth contains little of Oldham itself.

    Saddleworth includes a group of middle-class commuter villages in the south Pennines including Diggle, Uppermill and Delph.

  213. Hello

    Tom Mullen

    BBC News

    Hi folks. I'm just settling in to an overnight shift, keeping an eye on the results as they come in. Here's my view!

    Media City desk

    We have 27 marginal seats across the North West, so it's certainly going to be fascinating.

    We should be getting our first results in about an hour's time.

  214. Leigh

    Coffee control

    Karl Braidwood

    BBC News

    Police are fiercely guarding the caffeine in Leigh..

    Coffee and police
  215. They think it's all over?

    BBC Radio Lancashire election special

    He's normally the voice of the football results on BBC TV's Final Score but currently Mike West is keeping score on the general election for BBC Radio Lancashire - you can tune in now!

    Final Score
  216. Eddisbury

    Twenty boxes left

    BBC News staff

    As at 01:00 there were 20 boxes to be opened in the Eddisbury count, with the declaration time now estimated between 04:30 and 05:00.

    It is understood that when one box was opened broken glass was found inside - fortunately no-one was hurt.

  217. Labour

    Manchester Central candidate Lucy Powell dismisses exit poll

    Judy Hobson:

    Lucy Powell says she doesn't believe the exit poll and thinks Labour will make gains in the north west #GE0215

  218. Lancashire treats

    @bbclancashire

    Hello from @JohnBarnesUK in Burnley. Is it too early to eat my Chelsea Bun? #GE2015

    Chelsea bun

    Surely it should be an Eccles cake in this part of the world?!

  219. Morecambe & Lunesdale

    Profile

    The seat was returned to Conservative hands in 2010 after Labour took it from them in 1997. The Tories won 41.5% of the votes in 2010, the majority was 866 ahead of Labour on 39.5%. Labour need a swing of 1% to get it back.

    Morecambe & Lunesdale

    The seat contains the rural northern parts of Lancashire that border Cumbria, along with the seaside resort of Morecambe and the ferry port village of Heysham.

    Heysham is key to the area's economy, housing the nuclear power station that accounts for around 20% of the employment in the area. The surrounding Heysham port is also a large employer.

    Morecambe and Lunesdale combines a large retired community along with a higher than average employment area according to the ONS 2011 Census figures.

  220. Sefton Central

    Declaration time estimate

    It's now expected between 04:00 and 05:00.

  221. Ribble Valley

    Turnout increase expected

    Jon Robinson of the Lancashire Telegraph:

    The turnout in the Ribble Valley is expected to be around 70%, up from 67% in 2010.

  222. St Helens North

    Declaration time update

    Estimated time now 04:30 BST.

  223. UK picture

    What's happening overall?

    Rachael Connors

    BBC News Online

    Here's a reminder of the picture nationally. You can check the latest here.

    Our first North West result is due about 02:30 BST so crack open the cake tin and stay with us!

    Latest news
  224. Salford & Eccles

    Bez is in the building

    BBC Radio Manchester:

    Ladies and gentlemen, Mark Berry (aka Bez from the Happy Mondays) has entered the building! #Salford #GE2015MANC

    Star factor in Salford
    Image caption: Mark 'Bez' Berry
  225. Making a night of it

    Students' election party in Liverpool

    Paul Burnell

    BBC News

    Students at the University of Liverpool are making a night of it in the packed Guild of Students bar.

    University of Liverpool

    Nice to see at least one laptop among the pints - in my day I suspect it would have been pints only...

  226. Wirral South

    Profile

    Labour have held this seat since 1996 but the Tories would only need a swing of 0.6% to steal it back.

    Wirral South constituency

    It is a middle-class, suburban seat with good links to Liverpool - many residents commute to work via the Mersey Tunnel.

    Wirral South includes residential areas, farmland and some industry.

    Its Port Sunlight Village was built in the 1880s for workers at the Sunlight Soap factory and is now the base for multinational Unilever. At Bromborough, the Cereal Partners factory makes Shreddies and Cheerios.

  227. Via Twitter

    Counting continues in Salford

    BBC Radio Manchester:

    Still checking votes at #Salford. All boxes are in. Global turnout figures expected in about an hour.

    Counting continues in Salford
    Image caption: Counting continues in Salford
  228. Wirral

    Marginal seats 'fascinating'

    Mairead Smyth

    Political Reporter, BBC Radio Merseyside

    Counting is well under way at Bidston tennis centre in Birkenhead for four Wirral seats - Birkenhead, Wallasey, Wirral West and Wirral South.

    With the exit poll suggesting gains for the Conservatives, the marginal seats of Wirral West and Wirral South look even more fascinating.

    Labour hopes to retain a small majority in the South while the Conservatives hope the national picture is reflected here and allows Esther McVey to hold on.

    UKIP's deputy leader Paul Nuttall started his evening here and says he "doesn't believe" what the early predictions suggest.

  229. Manchester Withington

    Can Lib Dems hang on?

    In 2010 Lib Dem John Leech shored up his 2005 win over Labour, increasing his still-slim majority to 1,894. Labour need a swing of 2.1% to win it back.

    Manchester Withington constituency

    The mainly residential seat to the south of Manchester city centre includes the areas of Didsbury, Withington and Chorlton-cum-Hardy.

    The area remains affluent in many parts and is known for its café culture, bars, bistros and bohemian shops.

  230. Declaration times

    Stockport, Manchester Central, Blackley & Wythenshawe

    BBC Radio Manchester:

    Approximate times for results in Gtr Manchester #GE2015

    #Stockport 03:30-04:30

    #Manchester Central 04:00-06:00

    #Blackley & Broughton and Wythenshawe 04:00-06:00

  231. Bury North

    Red win in 'bellweather' seat?

    BBC Radio Manchester

    Sources say Labour ahead in Bury North. #GE2015

  232. Rings and crosses?

    Owner reunited with ring dropped in Oldham ballot box

    Oldham Council:

    Good news from the count as we've found a ring which a voter accidentally dropped into the ballot box in Alexandra Ward!

    The owner had already left his details with our polling staff so we hope to reunite him with it tomorrow.

    Owner reunited with ring found in Oldham ballot box
    Image caption: Owner reunited with ring found in Oldham ballot box
  233. Bolton West

    Sugar Rush!

    Speaking of Bolton West...

    Rosaleen Fenton at Mancunian Matters:

    No wifi at #boltonwest so the hacks have resorted to artificial sugar highs. #GE2015MANC

    Sugar Rush!
    Image caption: Sugar Rush!
  234. Lancaster & Fleetwood

    Labour target

    A new seat in 2010, Labour only need to turn around a majority of 333 to take it from the Tories.

    Lancaster & Fleetwood

    They'll have to appeal to residents in the historic town of Lancaster and the coastal town of Fleetwood, as well as other small towns and villages.

    Lancaster University is a big employer in the area, with more than 2,500 staff and upwards of 12,000 students. Meanwhile, energy firm BES Group has about 350 employees at its Fleetwood base and reportedly plans to create additional posts.

  235. Bolton West

    Tory target

    Until the results start flooding in from around the North West from about 02:30, let's give you a taste of the key seats up for grabs...

    Labour won the seat in 2010 with a majority of just 96, so the Conservatives have been campaigning hard in Bolton West.

    Bolton West constituency composite

    Despite being home to Bolton Wanderers Football Club, the seat includes little territory actually situated within Bolton. Instead its area covers the suburban and rural land between Bolton and Wigan, and is home to commuters who work in Manchester.

    The local economy has attracted a great deal of inward investment - the Middlebrook Retail and Leisure Park includes a 12-screen cinema, bowling alley, arena and Macron Stadium, as well as a variety of shops.

    This is the most affluent of the Bolton seats, 72.4% are homeowners - one in six of the population is a pensioner, according to ONS 2011 Census figures.

  236. Ellesmere Port & Neston

    Final boxes arrive

    BBC Merseyside:

    Ellesmere Port and Neston: The final ballot box has arrived from Glenwood Road #GE2015

    Final boxes arrive at Ellesmere Port & Neston
    Image caption: Final boxes arrive at Ellesmere Port & Neston
  237. Tune in... don't drop out!

    BBC Local Radio coverage

    The witching hour has arrived, but don't you dare go to bed just yet!

    If you must, though, why not take your tablet or phone with you and stay with us for as long as you can.

    You can also tune in to the election specials which are just getting under way on BBC Radios Lancashire and Manchester.

    BBC Radio Merseyside kicks off their coverage from 01:00.

  238. Rochdale

    Labour's seat to lose?

    Bronwyn Jones

    BBC Radio Manchester

    In the decorative main hall of Rochdale Town Hall candidates are doing the rounds as the ballots are counted.

    Rochdale count

    I'm told turnout has been higher than expected but we won't know the result until about 02:30.

    Incumbent Simon Danczuk won the seat for Labour in 2010 with a majority of only 889 over the Liberal Democrats.

  239. Hazel Grove

    Could the Tories steal it from the Lib Dems?

    BBC Radio Manchester

    Tories here in Stockport are confident of taking Hazel Grove from the Lib Dems.

  240. Salford and Eccles

    Freaky candidate?

    It's 10 years since Happy Mondays 'Freaky Dancer' Bez won the Celebrity Big Brother poll.

    Bez

    But can he make it a double in the Salford and Eccles seat where he is standing as an independent?

  241. Via Twitter

    Caffeine ready in Halton

    Halton Borough Council tweets: The media is assembled and the coffee flowing at the count here in Halton @bbcmerseyside #haltonvotes #ge2015

    Coffee
  242. Top North West seats to defend

    Lib Dems

    Five of the Liberal Democrat's 57 seats are in either Greater Manchester, Lancashire or Merseyside.

    • Manchester Withington (1,894 over Lab). 4.2%
    • Burnley (1,818 over Lab). 4.3% swing needed
    • Cheadle (3,272 over Con) 6.2% swing needed
    • Southport (6,024 over Con) 13.8% swing needed
    • Hazel Grove (6,371 over Con) 15.2%swing needed
  243. Top North West targets

    Lib Dems

    • Oldham East and Saddleworth (Lab 103). 0.2% swing needed
    • Rochdale (Lab 889). 1.9% swing need
  244. Preston

    Token voters?

    BBC News staff

    Preston constituency. Council election staff reporting queues at polling booths. Tokens were handed out to waiting voters just before 10pm

  245. Top North West Targets

    Labour (part two)

    • Blackpool North & Cleveleys (Con by 2,150)
    • City of Chester (Con by 2,583)
    • Wirral West (Con by 2,436)
    • Pendle (Con by 3,585)
    • High Peak (Con by 4,677)
    • Rossendale & Darwen (Con by 4,493)
    • South Ribble (Con by 5,554)
    • Crewe & Nantwich (Con by 6,046)
  246. Top North West targets

    Labour (part one)

    • Lancaster & Fleetwood (Conservatives won by 333 votes in 2010). Labour need a swing of 0.4% to take
    • Morecambe & Lunesdale (Con by 866). 1.0% swing needed
    • Weaver Wale (Con by 991). 1.1% swing needed
    • Warrington South (Con by 1,553). 1.4% swing needed
    • Manchester Withington (Lib Dems by 1,894). 2.1% swing needed
    • Burnley (Lib Dems by 1,818). 2.2% swing needed
    • Bury North (Con by 2,243). 2.5% swing needed
  247. Ribble Valley

    Tories 'confident'

    Jon Robinson ‏from the Lancashire Telegraph:

    The Tories are telling me that they expect Nigel Evans' majority to hold firm. Were fearing that it would dip under 10,000.

  248. Manchester

    Count about to start for two seats

    BBC Radio Manchester ‏@bbcradiomanc

    Just told last few boxes arriving now at the Tennis Centre, then business can officially begin… #GE2015MANC

    Manchester Tennis Centre
    Image caption: Manchester Tennis Centre
  249. Top North West targets

    Conservatives (part two)

    • Cheadle (Lib Dem by 3,272). 3.1% swing needed
    • Stalybridge & Hyde (Lab by 2,744) 3.3% swing needed
    • Bury South (Lab by 3,292) 3.4% swing needed
    • Hyndburn (Lab by 3,090) 3.6% swing needed
    • Sefton Central (Lab by 3,862). 4% swing needed
  250. Top North West targets

    Conservatives (part one)

    • Bolton West (Lab by 92). 0.1% swing needed
    • Wirral South (Lab by 531). 0.6% swing needed
    • Chorley (Lab by 2,593). 2.6% swing needed
    • Blackpool South (Lab by 1,852) 2.6% swing needed
    • Oldham East & Saddleworth (Lab by 103) 2.7% swing needed
  251. Salford and Eccles

    Higher turnout in Salford?

    Paul Burnell

    BBC News

    This may be totally unscientific and purely anecdotal, but staff at my local polling station told me they had reached the turnout for the last General Election in my ward by mid-afternoon.

  252. Via Twitter

    Impatient in Burnley

    Dan McLaughlin ‏@MrDanMcLaughlin

    All the Burnley candidates are circling the count as though they are in a club, surveying the dancefloor. #GE2015

  253. Southport

    Swimming against the tide?

    Leanne Harper

    Reporter, BBC Radio Merseyside

    I'm here at the Dunes Leisure Centre in Southport, where the Liberal Democrats will be hoping to hold on to their only Merseyside seat.

    John Pugh has represented the town since 2001 and with a majority of just over 6,000, he'll be hoping the seaside resort can flow against the predicted national tide once again, and return him as MP.

  254. Sefton Central

    Colour coding

    Eric Wise

    BBC News

    Separating the parish, borough and constituency ballot papers at Aintree Racecourse.

    Aintree count
  255. Rochdale

    @bbcradiomanc

    BBC Radio Manchester

    All of the ballot boxes are now in and the rustle of voting slips being counted fills the air in #Rochdale #GE2015

    Rochdale boxes empty
  256. The geek files

    There's nothing our North West political editor Arif Ansari likes more than a good electoral stat.

    So try these for size, and enjoy impressing your mates with some of this lot. No, really....

    • At 87%, the Sefton Central constituency has the highest proportion of owner-occupiers in the UK. Cheadle is third with 86%, while Wyre and Preston North is fifth on 85%
    • 31% of voters in Liverpool Riverside are students (the fifth highest in the UK)
    • Only 13% of voters in Liverpool Walton have a degree - the lowest proportion in the North West and the 7th lowest in the UK. Knowsley and Blackpool South are also in the bottom 20
    • Wirral West is the only seat the Tories have won on Merseyside since 1992
    • The Tories last won Stalybridge and Hyde in a by-election in 1937
  257. Record breaker

    Paul Burnell

    BBC News

    The seat of Hyndburn in East Lancashire has one of the more unenviable records in British General Election history.

    In 1983 it needed six recounts to elect the Conservatives' Ken Hargreaves with the count lingering into Friday afternoon.

    Hargreaves won by 21 votes over Labour's Arthur Davidson. Black coffee anyone?

  258. Wyre & Preston North

    Turnout higher than expected

    BBC presenter Mike Stevens ‏@MrMkStvns reports

    Count under way at Wyre and Preston North and there's talk of a higher-than-expected turnout.

    Wyre & Preston North Count
    Image caption: Wyre & Preston North Count
  259. Southport

    Voters coming out of their shells?

    Southport count

    BBC Radio Merseyside tweets: Who'll be first across the finish line at Dunes Leisure Centre for the #Southport count? #GE2015

  260. Cheshire West

    Ballot boxes arrive

    Cheshire West and Chester Council tweets: Ballot boxes are arriving at Chester #cwacelections

    Ballot box
  261. Preston

    Estimated declaration time

    Deborah Robinson

    BBC News

    The estimated declaration time for the Preston constituency is expected to be around 05:00.

    Verification of boxes is expected around 23:30 with counting expected to begin at 01:00.

    Turnout is rumoured to be high.

  262. Stockport

    All eyes on you....

    Tom Southworth

    BBC News

    Counting begins in Stockport

    Stockport
  263. Via Twitter

    A touch of glamour

    BBC Radio Manchester ‏@bbcradiomanc

    Tallying takes place under the spangle of a glitter ball and silver disco strands here at the Oldham East & Saddleworth and Oldham West & Royton counts #GE2015

    Glamorous count in Oldham
    Image caption: Glamorous count in Oldham
  264. Blackburn

    All present and correct?

    Verification begins in Blackburn.

    Blackburn count
  265. Weaver Vale

    Too close to call?

    Phil McCann

    Cheshire political reporter, BBC News

    Under the yellow sodium lighting of the sports hall at Chester's Northgate Arena, the staff counting the votes here know there's a lot of attention on them.

    The national media and party leaders have descended on this city over the last few weeks - and the pensive looking party members here know the result is expected to be very close - even if tonight's national exit poll might have relaxed some of the Conservatives.

  266. Focus on the...

    Greens

    The Greens have Liverpool Riverside as number eight in their top 20 target seats in the UK.

    The party hopes its status as opposition on Liverpool City Council will give it a platform to challenge sitting MP Louise Ellman, who took 53.9% of the votes in 2010.

  267. Focus on...

    UKIP

    UKIP has not published any target seats in the North West, as it has been trumpeting its "coming a good second" policy.

    The party hopes that creditable runners-up performances will lay the foundation for future growth.

    Although the party came within 617 votes of Labour in the Heywood By-Election last year prompted by the sudden death of Jim Dobbin.

  268. Focus on the...

    Lib Dems

    The Liberal Democrats aren't expected to gain any North West seats and are focussing on holding on to the ones they have. Nevertheless there are two seats which are within the party's top 20 theoretical targets.

    • Oldham East & Saddleworth (Lab by 103)
    • Rochdale (Lab by 889)
  269. Focus on...

    Labour

    Labour have been specifically targeting 106 seats around the UK - to win all of them they need to secure more than 40% of the vote - a tough ask given that they have been hovering around the 35% mark in the polls throughout the campaign.

    Of those 106, they need to win 68 seats tonight to secure an overall majority and not be reliant on the support of any other party or parties.

    They have identified 14 constituencies in the North West - 12 which are presently held by the Conservatives, and two by the Liberal Democrats.

  270. Morecambe and Lunesdale

    @maitlis

    Emily Maitlis

    Political editor, BBC Newsnight

    Morecombe and Lunesdale - FORECAST another dead heat - lab/tory 38 percent. Ukip on 17% - #GE2015 .

  271. Declaration times

    First marginal results

    Paul Burnell

    BBC News

    By 03:00 we will be finding out the fate of some of the key battleground seats with the results expected for the following marginal seats: Bolton West, Bury North and Bury South.

    The results should also be through then for Bolton North East, Bolton South East, Fylde, Preston, Ribble Valley, Wyre and Preston North

  272. Focus on the...

    Conservatives

    To secure a majority, the Tories need a typical swing from Labour of 2%. Last time they achieved 5.1%. It was 4.3% in the North West - the lowest in England, other than London.

    In reality the party is playing a 40:40 strategy, defending their 40 most vulnerable seats and targeting another 40 as they pursue a majority.

    They need to win 20 more seats for one.

  273. Via Twitter

    Off to bed!

    Annabel Tiffin

    Presenter, North West Tonight

    Off to bed early hoping to wake early for the 'juicy' bits #GE2015 alarm set 4am!

  274. Ellesmere Port & Neston

    Special delivery

    BBC Radio Merseyside

    The first ballot box has arrived #GE2015

    Ballot box delivery
  275. Warrington North & South

    Can Labour win both?

    Simon Moffatt

    BBC Radio Merseyside

    The two Warrington counts, Warrington North and South, are taking place at the Birchwood Sports Centre.

    Warrington North should be, in theory, a straightforward hold for Labour's Helen Jones.

    But watch out for the result from Warrington South - won last time by the Conservatives David Mowat by just 1553 votes - it's Labour's fourth top target in the North West.

  276. Wirral

    ...Go!

    BBC Radio Merseyside

    Counting has begun in Wirral. Expecting results from 05:00.

    Wirral counting begins
  277. Liverpool

    Ready, set....

    BBC Radio Merseyside

    The first ballot boxes have arrived at Liverpool Tennis Centre #GE2015

    Ballot boxes
  278. Via Twitter

    Polling Problems at Trafford

    @bbcradiomanc

    Returning officer at Trafford says tickets have been issued because of queues at some polling stations.

  279. When will the results come in?

    North West estimated declaration times

    Paul Burnell

    BBC News

    While Sunderland is seeking to keep its proud record of declaring the UK's first result alive (about 23:00), how quickly can we expect them here in the North West?

    According to the latest predictions, it will be about 02:30 in the City of Chester - a key Labour target.

    Ellesmere Port and Neston, Eddisbury, Makerfield, and Rochdale are also due at about the time.

  280. Via Twitter

    @mrgordonburns

    Former BBC North West Tonight presenter Gordon Burns tweets: Got the grapes, nuts and chocolate in to sustain me through the night's election coverage. Love these nights. Excited. :-)

    Which of our region's candidates will have the Krypton Factor tonight (sorry...)

  281. Via Twitter

    @bbcradiomanc

    Beautiful location for the #Rochdale election count here at the Town Hall #GE2015MANC #GE2015

    Rochdale town hall count
  282. North West battleground

    Marginal seats

    Arif Ansari

    BBC North West Political Editor

    There are 72 constituencies across the BBC's North West region, of which 27 are classified as "marginal". All this means is that they are held by a party with a majority of less than 10%.

    Marginals

    We have more of these highly contested seats than any other region in England - and this explains why the parties have devoted a lot of their time and resources here.

    To bring you bang up to speed, why not watch my quick video guide to the region's electoral battleground?

  283. North West battleground

    How the region voted in 2010

    Election 2015

    As counting gets under way, a glance at a map of the North West shows where the Labour and Tory strongholds are.

    Election map of the NW

    The red Labour seats dominate the central belt between Liverpool and Manchester with the blue Conservative seats holding sway in north Lancashire and Cheshire.

    But is the colour of the North West about to change?

  284. Get in touch

    Via Facebook, Twitter and Email

    While we have our mates from BBC Radio Manchester and North West Tonight to keep us company - and to nick some of the goodies we've brought in - we'd love to hear thoughts.

    We adore the #dogsatpollingstations meme which has been doing the rounds all day - why not add your polling pooch to the collection?

    And while we have enough snacks to sink a battleship, we'd like your #electionsnacks pictures please, and if you're at an election party, send us some snaps too.

    Here's how: https://www.facebook.com/bbcnorthwesttonight, https://twitter.com/bbcnwt, northwest.newsonline@bbc.co.uk

  285. BreakingExit Poll

    Conservatives to be largest party?

    After weeks of the polls suggesting a near tie between Labour and the Conservatives in terms of share of the vote, the UK election exit poll predicts the Tories will be the largest party in a hung parliament, with 316 seats to Labour's 239.

    Talk about getting the evening off to a bang!

  286. Hello, good evening and welcome!

    Grab your snacks and drinks of choice and join us for an all-nighter back at ours - it's Election Night 2015!

    Election 2015

    After a thrilling / interminably dull campaign (*delete as applicable), it's finally time for the politicians to listen to the people's verdict.

    Over the next few hours we'll bring you the results from around the North West as they happen and analyse what they mean for the region and the whole of the UK.

  287. Post update