Live Caerphilly by-election updates as votes counted and result due within hours

Polls have closed and votes are now being counted in the Caerphilly by-election. The election is being held after the death of Hefin David, a Labour Senedd member who died in August.

Since 1918 Caerphilly has only ever been a Labour seat in both the Senedd and Westminster. However Labour could well struggle to retain the seat. Both Reform UK and Plaid Cymru are expected to challenge Labour with the sole Caerphilly-specific poll projecting that Reform UK will win and, as a result, make Llyr Powell the party's first elected Senedd member.

The result is also being seen as a key test for Labour ahead of May's full Senedd election. National polling is now consistently showing that Plaid Cymru or Reform UK will take the most seats with Labour falling to third place.

Labour has been in power in the Welsh Parliament for the whole 26 years of devolved politics.

The count is taking place at Caerphilly Leisure Centre and the result is expected to be in the early hours of Friday morning.

More detail on all the candidates are available and the full list of candidates is as follows:

Liberal Democrats: Steve Aicheler

Gwlad: Anthony Cook

Greens: Gareth Hughes

Conservatives: Gareth Potter

Reform: Llyr Powell

Ukip: Roger Quilliam

Labour: Richard Tunnicliffe

Plaid Cymru: Lindsay Whittle

You can read live updates from the count, including the result when it comes, below and remember you can get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here: