UK local elections 2024 LIVE: Vote counting begins after polls close with Tories braced for harsh results as parties await crucial outcome

There's a lot going on tonight, but helpfully this helpful graphic should help you pinpoint what to keep an eye out for and where the key races may be.

The ballots are already being counted in the Blackpool South by-election, where candidates are vying to replace Tory MP Scott Benton who resigned earlier this year.

The constituency had been a safe Labour seat before Benton's election in 2019, where the Conservatives received 49.6% of the vote and won with a majority of 3,690.

However, the omens aren't looking good for another Tory victory tonight, with forecasts suggesting it will swing back to Labour.

The Liberal Democrats, who are always competitve during the local elections, seem to be in a good mood before the results come in.

The party's leader Sir Ed Davey said:

Labour appeared confident about their chances before the polls closed, and given the voting forecasts, not many would argue their bullishness is misplaced.

Labour have held a lead in the polls over the Conservatives for more than two years as people turn sour on the Tory-led government.

One recent poll suggested Labour could gain 44% of the vote at the next General Election, with the Tories wallowing on 18%, squeezed by Reform UK polling at 15%.

While local elections are a different beast to national votes - turnout tends to be lower and people tend to vote on local issues - the Conservatives are hopeful of losing as few seats as possible, as opposed to winning more.

Labour are in a confident mood after the closure of the polls, and say they are expecting to win seats in key battlegrounds.

Pat McFadden (pictured below outside Westminster this morning), Labour's National Campaign Coordinator, said:

Polls have now closed in today's local elections.

If you were able to get in line before the clock hit 10pm, then stay as you will be able to vote.

The first results are expected to come in by 12.30am.

Sadiq Khan got in on the dogs at polling stations action when he and his wife Saadiya brought their dog along with them to vote this morning.

His Tory rival Susan Hall also went out to vote this morning at her local polling station in Hatch End, as polls give the incumbant a significant lead over his Conservative challenger.

We've all heard of dogs at polling stations, but donkeys?

People heading to vote in the village of Godshill in the New Forest this morning were greeted by an ass stood outside their polling station.

It's unclear whether his owner was inside or the donkey was trying to cast its vote in the district election.

While the race to become Mayor of London unsurprisingly takes the most attention, there are 10 other mayoral races taking place in England today.

Most of these are to elect combined authority mayors, also known as metro mayors - politicians who will chair combined authorities made up of multiple council areas.

The following regions are holding these polls today:

There is also one mayoral election in the city of Salford.

While many voters will cast their ballot in their local village hall or school, some people in Cambridge had a slightly different experience.

Due to issues accessing the Milton Road Library in the morning, people who turned up to vote were told they had to do so from the back of a volunteer's car.

Among the biggest votes taking place today is the London mayoral election.

Labour mayor Sadiq Khan headed to the polls today looking for a third four-year term in charge of Britain's most populous city.

He is facing competition from a host of candidates, including Conservative Susan Hall, Reform UK's Howard Cox, the Green Party's Zoe Garbett and Liberal Democrat Rob Blackie.

The full list of London mayoral candidates is as follows:

One of the most comforting sights on election day is the dogs of Britain sitting outside the polling station while their owners head inside to cast their vote.

With polls closing at 10pm, you might be forgiven for thinking it could take a while for the results to come through.

And while it may take some time for the larger votes to be confirmed, the first council results could come just after midnight.

There will be a steady trickle of results through the night, with councils in Hartlepool, Sunderland, Bolton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Portsmouith, Southen-on-Sea and Exeter all expected to delcare before 3am.

The result in the Blackpool South by-election should be announced by 4.30am.

However, larger votes such as mayoral and PCC elections will take longer than this, with Londoners having to wait until Saturday for their mayoral election result to be confirmed.

One of the most interesting things about voting day is the variety of where Britain's polling stations are actually located.

Whether it be a local cafe (top), a Salvation Army office (second top) or a village hall (bottom), it seems there's almost no barrier when it comes to finding somewhere to vote.

Polling stations across England and Wales opened at 7am this morning, giving the volunteers who run them from your local church, school or social club an early start.

Despite that, more than 12 hours later they are still open and if you haven't voted yet you still have the opportunity to get out and do so.

Polling stations don't close until 10pm and as long as you in line by the time the clock strikes the hour you'll be able to cast your vote.

It's a big day for people with an interest in how their local area is run. This is what's on the line:

Good evening and welcome to MailOnline's live coverage of the UK local elections.

Millions of people have gone to their local polling stations today to make their vote count in council, mayoral and PCC elections.

There's even a by-election taking place on what could be a chastening night for the Conservative Party, with predictions they could be in line for big losses across the country.

It will be a night full of intrigue and here at MailOnline we'll do our best to keep you abreast of all the developments as they happen.