LIVE: Local elections 2025 and Runcorn and Helsby by-election results and updates

Votes have been cast across the country for the local elections 2025.

In total 1,641 council seats were up for grabs across 23 local authorities with a large number of county council elections taking place. Boundary changes mean some areas were electing fewer councillors than in previous years.

While no council elections are taking place in Greater Manchester, people in one Rochdale ward did go to the polls for a by-election. A council seat was up for grabs in Balderstone and Kirkholt.

In Cheshire, a parliamentary by-election took place to choose a new MP for the Runcorn & Helsby constituency. It comes following the resignation of Labour's Mike Amesbury, after he pleaded guilty to assault.

And four regional mayors and two local mayors were also set to be elected in Doncaster, Greater Lincolnshire, North Tyneside, West of England, Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and Hull and East Yorkshire.

The elections are seen as the first big test for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer following Labour's victory in the general election last summer.

Polls will close across England at 10pm. At this time counting will begin in the Runcorn & Helsby by-election and in four of the six mayoral contests.

The results of these are expected in the early hours of Friday morning, with all other councils and votes not expected to be declared until the afternoon.

You can see updates from the local elections 2025 and Runcorn & Helsby by-election in our live blog below.