ELECTIONS LATEST: Polling stations close across Preston

We have been speaking to candidates as votes are separated and verified.

Drew Gale, Labour candidate for the Town Centre ward, said he was “excited and a little bit nervous”, as he sought re-election.

Councillors and candidates expressed concern over a low turnout, and Lea councillor Christine Abram said: “I’ve been doing it since 1999, and this is the worst turnout I’ve ever seen.

“It’s the worst I’ve ever known for apathy.”

Pauline Brown, Liberal Democrat incumbent candidate for Ingol, said she was “so nervous”, after the ward was won by the party last year by just 13 votes.

She had an eventful day after being “rescued” from her broken-down mobility scooter by her “knight in shining armour”, Conservative candidate Anthony Smith.

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Voters across the city have been able to choose where to put a cross on the ballot paper to elect their local councillor.

Residents have also been able to vote for a Police and Crime Commissioner for Lancashire, with the results due to be announced on Friday.

The doors to polling stations closed at 10pm, with ballot boxes now on their way to Preston’s Guild Hall.

There will be a nervous wait for the local election candidates, as the results are verified and counting gets underway.

In Preston, elections have been held for one third of the council seats, in all but four wards across the city.

In College ward, Moor Park ward and University ward there were no local elections this year, although residents could still vote for a Police and Crime Commissioner.

In St George’s ward only one candidate, Labour’s Anis Faruki, stood for local election and was returned uncontested, meaning there was no need for a council vote in that ward.

Across the city, a total of 18 seats were up for grabs.

The wards where local elections have been held are Ashton, Brookfield, Cadley, Deepdale, Fishwick, Garrison, Greyfriars, Ingol, Larches, Lea, Preston Rural East, Preston Rural North, Ribbleton, Riversway, Sharoe Green, St Matthew’s, Town Centre and Tulketh.

The council in Preston, until today’s election, was made up of 32 Labour councillors, 19 Conservative councillors, five Liberal Democrat Councillors, and one Deepdale Independent.

Click here for a full list of candidates and results in Preston as they are announced.

Here are the full candidate lists, and results for Lancashire as they are announced through the evening.

West Lancashire candidates and results

Hynburn candidates and results

Rossendale candidates and results

Blackburn candidates and results

Chorley candidates and results