Calderdale elections results: This is how they day unfolded as Labour remained in control

The controlling group on Calderdale Council going into the election is Labour, who have 28 of the 51 seats.

Labour goes into poll defending eight seats and the bottom line is that if the party holds six of these, or makes compensatory gains for any losses, they will retain control – 26 seats are needed for a majority.

Currently there are 12 Conservatives, seven Liberal Democrats and four Independents, although Colin Peel, defending his Brighouse seat, does not have a designation on the candidate list.

Two wards will be electing two councillors, Greetland and Stainland following the sad passing of Liberal Democrat Coun Marilyn Greenwood, and Brighouse where former Conservative group leader Scott Benton, who is now MP for Blackpool South, has resigned his council seat, with neither seat being among those which would be contested this year.

The borough election wards being counted this morning are Ovenden, Skircoat, Northowram and Shelf, Town, Mixenden and Illingworth, Elland, Park, Brighouse and Todmorden. The rest will be counted this afternoon.

The election count will take place in two stages with some wards, mainly Halifax ones, being counted this morning before a break and the rest of the results later this afternoon.

A look inside the election count and the social distance and restrictions in place before volunteers and candidates enter the building.

It was a busy day for police officers during the voting process on Thursday

Calderdale Council’s chief executive Robin Tuddenham was out and about on voting day.