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Tories and Lib Dems making gains Tories and Lib Dems making gains
(40 minutes later)
The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have been making gains - and taken one council each - as the results of the English local elections come in. The Tories have gained three councils and the Lib Dems one as the results of the English local elections come in.
The Tories have taken Devon and Somerset from the Lib Dems and won power at the newly created Central Bedfordshire Council.
Meanwhile the Lib Dems have taken overall control of Bristol.
Labour has so far lost 23 councillors and is predicted to lose control of Staffordshire and a council it has controlled for 28 years - Derbyshire.
Labour needed to lose five seats in Derbyshire to lose overall control, so far the Conservatives have taken six from them.
In Staffordshire, where Labour had been in control since 1981, the party had a majority of just one seat but had been in control since 1981. The Conservatives have gained 11 seats.
The BBC's political research unit editor David Cowling said it looked like there was a big drop in the Labour vote across the country with some of long-term councillors being felled.
Elections for 27 county councils, seven unitary authorities and three mayors were held on Thursday, alongside the UK-wide European elections.Elections for 27 county councils, seven unitary authorities and three mayors were held on Thursday, alongside the UK-wide European elections.
The Lib Dems took control of Bristol, while the Tories won power at newly created Central Bedfordshire Council.
It is believed Labour have lost control of Staffordshire county council.
The party had a majority of just one seat but had been in control since 1981. The Conservatives have gained 11 seats.
'Complete transformation''Complete transformation'
The Tories have also gained six seats so far in Devon - where they need nine to take control of the council from the Liberal Democrats and have increased their majority on Lincolnshire County Council. The Tories have taken overall control of Somerset County Council from the Lib Dems. With five seats yet to be declared the Tories are on 30, the Lib Dems on 21 and Labour on two.
In Devon the Tories have taken 32 seats giving them a majority of one in the 62-member county council.
The Conservatives have also retained control of Hampshire and Lincolnshire county councils.
RESULTS SO FAR Devon County: Tory winSomerset County: Tory winBristol City: Lib Dems win controlStaffs County: Labour expects to lose controlDerbyshire: Labour expected to lose controlCentral Beds: Tories take controlLincs: Tories increase majority
Meanwhile the British National Party has taken a seat on Lancashire County Council from Labour, its first county council seat in England.Meanwhile the British National Party has taken a seat on Lancashire County Council from Labour, its first county council seat in England.
In the first three results to be announced from the count, the BNP took one seat and the Liberal Democrats took two from Labour.In the first three results to be announced from the count, the BNP took one seat and the Liberal Democrats took two from Labour.
Counting is under way elsewhere. In Bristol, the Lib Dems and Tories gained four seats each, all at the expense of Labour. The Lib Dems have 36 councillors, giving them an overall majority in the city.
RESULTS SO FAR Bristol City: Lib Dems win controlStaffs County: Labour expects to lose controlCentral Beds: Tories take controlLincs: Tories increase majority
In Bristol, the Lib Dems and Tories gained four seats each, all at the expense of Labour.
The Lib Dems have 36 councillors, giving them an overall majority on the city.
Party leader Nick Clegg said this was the beginning of a "complete transformation of city politics" with his party taking urban seats off Labour.Party leader Nick Clegg said this was the beginning of a "complete transformation of city politics" with his party taking urban seats off Labour.
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg on losses and gains in the local elections
He admitted it looked like the Lib Dems were facing a strong challenge from the Tories in the rural south west but said they had made "spectacular gains against Labour in Bristol" and in their northern heartlands in Burnley.He admitted it looked like the Lib Dems were facing a strong challenge from the Tories in the rural south west but said they had made "spectacular gains against Labour in Bristol" and in their northern heartlands in Burnley.
And he said they were taking seats in the south east - including Tory party chairman Eric Pickles' own seat.And he said they were taking seats in the south east - including Tory party chairman Eric Pickles' own seat.
"It's a bit of a patchwork -a bit of a setback in the south west but very spectacular gains elsewhere," Mr Clegg said. "It's a bit of a patchwork - a bit of a setback in the south west but very spectacular gains elsewhere," Mr Clegg said.
The Conservatives took power in the new Central Bedfordshire unitary authority, winning 54 seats on the council. The Lib Dems took 11, while Labour failed to win a seat.The Conservatives took power in the new Central Bedfordshire unitary authority, winning 54 seats on the council. The Lib Dems took 11, while Labour failed to win a seat.
'Stay away vote''Stay away vote'
In Lincolnshire, the Tories gained 14 seats - to take their total number to 60 - while the number of Labour councillors fell from 19 to just four.In Lincolnshire, the Tories gained 14 seats - to take their total number to 60 - while the number of Labour councillors fell from 19 to just four.
Local government minister John Healey admitted it did not look good for Labour: "It was always going to be very tough for Labour in local council elections - I mean this is Tory England at the ballot box.Local government minister John Healey admitted it did not look good for Labour: "It was always going to be very tough for Labour in local council elections - I mean this is Tory England at the ballot box.
He's wrong, we have been out campaigning for the last few weeks as you would expect John Healey on John PrescottHe's wrong, we have been out campaigning for the last few weeks as you would expect John Healey on John Prescott
He added: "I think we will see a stay away Labour vote, I think we will see very mixed results across the country and I think we will see a high protest vote." He added: "I think we will see a stay-away Labour vote, I think we will see very mixed results across the country and I think we will see a high protest vote."
He also dismissed criticism of the local government and European election campaign on John Prescott's blog.He also dismissed criticism of the local government and European election campaign on John Prescott's blog.
The former deputy PM accused Harriet Harman and other ministers of running a "non campaign" and of being "resigned to defeat".The former deputy PM accused Harriet Harman and other ministers of running a "non campaign" and of being "resigned to defeat".
But Mr Healey told the BBC: "He's wrong, we have been out campaigning for the last few weeks as you would expect."But Mr Healey told the BBC: "He's wrong, we have been out campaigning for the last few weeks as you would expect."
'Fed up''Fed up'
He said campaigns in local areas had been "very strong" but had been "overwhelmed" by the expenses row and voters were using them as a referendum on personalities at Westminster.He said campaigns in local areas had been "very strong" but had been "overwhelmed" by the expenses row and voters were using them as a referendum on personalities at Westminster.
But the Conservative frontbencher Liam Fox told the BBC: "It's very clear that the voters are sending out a clear signal - they are fed up with Labour."But the Conservative frontbencher Liam Fox told the BBC: "It's very clear that the voters are sending out a clear signal - they are fed up with Labour."
He said it was too early to say how the Conservatives had done but said: "We are making big gains from Cumbria to Devon at the moment - some of those gains are really spectacular."He said it was too early to say how the Conservatives had done but said: "We are making big gains from Cumbria to Devon at the moment - some of those gains are really spectacular."
UKIP 'outrage' on folded ballotsUKIP 'outrage' on folded ballots
In Hartlepool, independent Stuart Drummond was re-elected for a third term as mayor. The former Hartlepool United mascot - known as H'Angus the Monkey - first won office in 2002.In Hartlepool, independent Stuart Drummond was re-elected for a third term as mayor. The former Hartlepool United mascot - known as H'Angus the Monkey - first won office in 2002.
Turnout appears to have been mixed. Provisional figures from the Doncaster mayoral election suggest 35.8% of voters took part - down from 54% in 2005. In Staffordshire turnout is also estimated at 31% so far. But in Leicestershire results have been delayed by a "higher than expected" turnout.Turnout appears to have been mixed. Provisional figures from the Doncaster mayoral election suggest 35.8% of voters took part - down from 54% in 2005. In Staffordshire turnout is also estimated at 31% so far. But in Leicestershire results have been delayed by a "higher than expected" turnout.
In the European Parliament elections, the UK Independence Party has complained about the way ballot papers were folded, while there were mixed reports of turnout.In the European Parliament elections, the UK Independence Party has complained about the way ballot papers were folded, while there were mixed reports of turnout.
The Electoral Commission was forced to issue an alert asking polling station staff not to fold ballot papers.The Electoral Commission was forced to issue an alert asking polling station staff not to fold ballot papers.
This followed complaints that parties listed lower on the alphabetical ballot papers were hidden when first unfolded.This followed complaints that parties listed lower on the alphabetical ballot papers were hidden when first unfolded.
A commission spokesman told the BBC it issued the alert after talking to returning officers and the UK Independence Party, who brought the issue to their attention.A commission spokesman told the BBC it issued the alert after talking to returning officers and the UK Independence Party, who brought the issue to their attention.
The European results will be declared on Sunday from 2100 BST. They are delayed because voting is carried out in 27 EU countries over four days.The European results will be declared on Sunday from 2100 BST. They are delayed because voting is carried out in 27 EU countries over four days.