Local elections live blog

6am:

• Labour lose all five seats it was defending on Essex County Council. Also in Essex Tories win three seats on Harlow, increasing the party's grip on the bellwether new town.
• LibDems gain Bristol, Labour lose 8 of 10 seats it was defending (see LibDemVoice)
• Tories on course to win Staffordshire, gaining SIX seats in Tamworth
• Tories won 54 of 66 seats on new Central Bedfordshire council. Labour failed to win a single seat.

12.55am: CCHQ now reporting that Labour may lose all ten of the seats it is defending in Bristol.

12.45am: CCHQ tell me that we have won St George East, Bristol, from Labour, with a swing of more than 9%.  Hurrah!

12.05am: Good reports for Conservatives from Staffordshire.

11.15pm: Sources predict Labour will be disappointed at outcome in Lincoln.

Should have early impressions by 11pm and, if we're fortunate, some projections at 1am.