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Counting begins in council polls Labour worries on council losses
(40 minutes later)
Counting is well under way in the council elections across Wales. Labour fears it may have lost control of at least two Welsh councils.
People have been voting throughout the day for the 22 county councils and many town and community councils. With counting under way at most of the 22 Welsh county councils, Labour has suggested it may have lost its majority in Blaenau Gwent and Newport.
There were Labour suggestions that the party has lost its majority in Blaenau Gwent, one of a handful of Welsh councils it had controlled. Defeat in both areas would be a major blow to Labour in what has been the party's south Wales heartland.
It has emerged that Labour's majority in the area shrank before the election to about eight after defections by some Labour councillors to other groups. It has emerged the Labour majority in Blaenau Gwent shrank before the election to about eight after some councillors defected to other groups.
WHO RAN WELSH COUNCILS FROM 2004 - 2008 Blaenau Gwent: LabourBridgend: Liberal Democrat / Conservative / Plaid Cymru / IndependentCaerphilly: LabourCardiff: Liberal DemocratCarmarthen: Labour / IndependentCeredigion: Independent / Liberal Democrat / LabourConwy: Independent / Conservative / Plaid Cymru / Liberal DemocratDenbighshire: Independent / Conservative / Plaid CymruFlintshire: LabourGwynedd: Plaid CymruMerthyr: Labour / IndependentMonmouth: ConservativeNeath Port Talbot: LabourNewport: LabourPembrokeshire: IndependentPowys: IndependentRhondda Cynon Taf: LabourSwansea: Liberal Democrat / IndependentTorfaen: LabourVale of Glamorgan: Labour / Plaid Cymru / IndependentWrexham: Liberal Democrat-led BoardYnys Mon: Anglesey Forward / Radical IndependentsWHO RAN WELSH COUNCILS FROM 2004 - 2008 Blaenau Gwent: LabourBridgend: Liberal Democrat / Conservative / Plaid Cymru / IndependentCaerphilly: LabourCardiff: Liberal DemocratCarmarthen: Labour / IndependentCeredigion: Independent / Liberal Democrat / LabourConwy: Independent / Conservative / Plaid Cymru / Liberal DemocratDenbighshire: Independent / Conservative / Plaid CymruFlintshire: LabourGwynedd: Plaid CymruMerthyr: Labour / IndependentMonmouth: ConservativeNeath Port Talbot: LabourNewport: LabourPembrokeshire: IndependentPowys: IndependentRhondda Cynon Taf: LabourSwansea: Liberal Democrat / IndependentTorfaen: LabourVale of Glamorgan: Labour / Plaid Cymru / IndependentWrexham: Liberal Democrat-led BoardYnys Mon: Anglesey Forward / Radical Independents
In an early result on Anglesey, prominent independent John Arthur Jones lost his Cyngar seat to Plaid Cymru's Rhian Medi from Plaid Cymru by 200 votes. In 2004 Mr Jones had beaten her by one vote. As results started to come in, Welsh Labour leader and assembly First Minister Rhodri Morgan told Sky News it was "important not to panic".
Independent John Meirion Davies, holder of the education porfolio on Anglesey, lost his seat to the Liberal Democrats. Elsewhere, in an early result on Anglesey, prominent independent John Arthur Jones lost his Cyngar seat to Plaid Cymru's Rhian Medi from Plaid Cymru by 200 votes. In 2004 Mr Jones had beaten her by one vote.
Independent John Meirion Davies, holder of the education portfolio on Anglesey, lost his seat to the Liberal Democrats.
In Swansea, Joan Peters, who was an Independent member of the cabinet, lost in Oystermouth to the Conservatives.In Swansea, Joan Peters, who was an Independent member of the cabinet, lost in Oystermouth to the Conservatives.
Early reports of turnout suggested that it was low in Wrexham, with Liberal Democrats reports that it was "very patchy", and as low as 20% in some areas, and about 40% in others.Early reports of turnout suggested that it was low in Wrexham, with Liberal Democrats reports that it was "very patchy", and as low as 20% in some areas, and about 40% in others.
However, in Gwynedd turnout was said to be quite high, with 60% of postal votes returned in Blaenau Ffestiniog, and 50% in Chwilog.However, in Gwynedd turnout was said to be quite high, with 60% of postal votes returned in Blaenau Ffestiniog, and 50% in Chwilog.
Plaid Cymru hopes to retain control of Gwynedd, but senior party sources said if Plaid was going to have a bloody nose then it was better to have one with a high turnout, to ensure that the people of the county had spoken.Plaid Cymru hopes to retain control of Gwynedd, but senior party sources said if Plaid was going to have a bloody nose then it was better to have one with a high turnout, to ensure that the people of the county had spoken.
Plaid Cymru lost the the Brithdir and Llanfachreth ward in Gwynedd to Llais Gwynedd, the protest group set up to halt school reorganisation. Llais Gwynedd also had another councillor elected unopposed. Plaid Cymru lost the Brithdir and Llanfachreth ward in Gwynedd to Llais Gwynedd, the protest group set up to halt school reorganisation. Llais Gwynedd also had another councillor elected unopposed.
About two million people were eligible to vote in elections which will help to decide how the larger councils spend nearly £20bn over the next four years.About two million people were eligible to vote in elections which will help to decide how the larger councils spend nearly £20bn over the next four years.
The results will also be closely watched as a verdict on the performance of the main political parties, both at Westminster and in the Welsh assembly.The results will also be closely watched as a verdict on the performance of the main political parties, both at Westminster and in the Welsh assembly.
The new and re-elected councillors will take charge of key services such as schools, social services, recycling and refuse collection, leisure centres and planning.The new and re-elected councillors will take charge of key services such as schools, social services, recycling and refuse collection, leisure centres and planning.
Thousands of would-be county councillors are standing for more than 1,200 seats.Thousands of would-be county councillors are standing for more than 1,200 seats.
Most councils started counting when polls closed, but others will leave it until Friday morning. That means that a full picture will not emerge until Friday afternoon.Most councils started counting when polls closed, but others will leave it until Friday morning. That means that a full picture will not emerge until Friday afternoon.
Some authorities, such as Cardiff, are publishing the results ward-by-ward online.
BBC Wales election coverage:		Some authorities, such as Cardiff, are publishing the results ward-by-ward online.
BBC Wales election coverage:
Web: The BBC Wales News website - bbc.co.uk/walesnews - will provide continually updated coverage throughout Thursday and on Friday.Web: The BBC Wales News website - bbc.co.uk/walesnews - will provide continually updated coverage throughout Thursday and on Friday.
Radio: Radio Wales and Radio Cymru: Results programmes from 0030 to 0300 BST on Friday. Also on Radio 5 Live from 2200 to 0500 BST and Radio Four from 0000 to 0300 BST. Radio: Radio Wales and Radio Cymru: Results programmes to 0300 BST on Friday. Also on Radio 5 Live to 0500 BST and Radio Four to 0300 BST.
TV: Betsan Powys and Adrian Masters will provide regular updates from Wales on Election Night 2008 from 0005 to 0600 BST on BBC One Wales and the BBC News channel. TV: Betsan Powys and Adrian Masters will provide regular updates from Wales on Election Night 2008 to 0600 BST on BBC One Wales and the BBC News channel.