Polling stations close for local elections 2018

Polling booths across Lancashire are now closed and vote counts are due to start late on Thursday.
Results are expected in the early hours of Friday in Preston and ChorleyResults are expected in the early hours of Friday in Preston and Chorley
Results are expected in the early hours of Friday in Preston and Chorley

Results for Preston and Chorley councils are expected in the early hours of Friday.

For latest updates throughout the night visit www.lep.co.uk, @leponline along with our reporters on Twitter @JIllingworthLP and @Megan_Titley

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In Preston, a total of 20 seats are up for grabs in the council chamber across 19 wards.

At the start of the night, Labour holds 22 places in the 57-seat chamber, the Conservatives 12 and the Lib Dems three.

Parties need to reach the 29 mark to secure a majority.

Both Labour and the Conservatives have a candidate in contention for each seat with the Liberal Democrats fighting for 12.

The UK Independence Party (Ukip) is fielding candidates in five wards with the Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition party standing in one.

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In Chorley, 17 seats are up for grabs out of the borough's 20 wards.

Both Labour and the Conservatives have put forward a candidate for each seat, with the Liberal Democrats proposing six candidates.

The UK Independence Party (Ukip) and the Independents are fielding candidates in two wards, while the Democrats and Veterans Party is standing in one.

Across England, more than 4,000 seats are being contested in around 150 councils - including all 32 London boroughs, as well as every ward in Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds and Newcastle.

Mayoral elections are taking place in Hackney, Lewisham, Newham, Tower Hamlets, Watford and the Sheffield City region, but there are no polls in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.