For all the live action from the Preston Guild Hall, updated every 20 minutes by Andy Halls.

For more interactive updates, head to our live-blog here.

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For a list of the candidates, head here.

04:41 – That concludes this evening’s action. Check out the live blog for an exclusive interview with MP Mark Hendrick, and photographs of the action as it unfolded. Join us again tomorrow afternoon for coverage of the local elections.

04:29 – Nerissa Warner-O’Neill tells Mark Hendrick that ‘tonight is his night’. A gracious defeat from the Tory. A swing of 2.5% in votes was seen compared to 2005, showing that whilst Hendrick regained his seat, he has lost some support over the five years.

04:26 – The result is in here in Preston – and it’s a win for Mark Hendrick and the Labour party. Mark received 15,668 of the votes. With Mark Jewell of the Liberal Democrats getting 7,935, and Nerissa Warner-O’Neill receiving 7,060. Full reaction to follow.

04:09 – Candidates are being asked to come towards the stage. We’ll keep you posted. Head to the live blog here for instant updates.

04:08 – Feels like the calm before the storm here now. There’s a haunting silence about the place. The results are close.

04:00 – A brief scare for the Blog Preston team there, as the WiFi had a bit of a moment. We’re back now. People are still congregating around the centre counting tables, with all eyes on the Returning Officer.

03:53 – The last of the votes are being counted here. A congregation of people are gathered around the counting tables. A result looks imminent.

03:49 – The vote from South Ribble is in. It’s another seat for the Tories. Lorraine Fullbrook has received 23,396 votes, 45.5% of those available to her.

03:40 – Tory candidate Nerissa Warner-O’Neill quietly celebrating Liberal Democrat’s success in Burnley. A number of those counting votes have now finished their piles of ballot papers. Spoilt papers holding an announcement up here; a result feels like it’s on the horizon.

03:27 – The result for Fylde is in. It’s a held seat for Mark Menzies and the Conservatives, with 52.2% of the vote – 22,826 in total.

03:20 – Rumours are flying around that there has been a lot of spoilt ballot papers here at Preston Guild Hall. Mark Hendrick and Nerissa Warner-O’Neill having a chat, whilst overlooking the counting.

03:00 – The candidates all seem very nervous here. Pacing around the count tables anxiously. There is a genuine feeling here that this vote is going to go right down to the wire.

02:49 – The Wyre & Preston North result has been announced. Ben Wallace of the Conservatives has been re-elected. The constituency is formerly known as Lancaster & Wyre.

02:42 – The Returning Officer announces that voter turnout for the Parliamentary election is 53.4%, down 0.6% on 2005.

02:40 – According to the Deputy Returning Officer, the votes are still being separated; after that the votes can begin to be counted. This has all the signs of being a late/early one, I’m afraid folks.

02:20 – The word on the grapevine is that we may not be finished here at Guild Hall until 4 or 5am, we’ll try and confirm this aos soon as possible. An interview with UKIP candidate Richard Muirhead will be up shortly.

02:06 – Ribble Valley vote is in, and it’s a Conservative hold, Nigel Evans re-elected, with 26,298 of the vote. Total number of votes is 52,365, which is a 67.32% voter turnout.

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02:00 – Mark Hendrick refuses to speak to Blog Preston, and the BBC, until after the result is announced. He gave no particular reason for refusing to talk, but we endeavour to get an interview with him as soon as the votes have been counted. Late postal votes have also just arrived; first stage of verifying then results to follow, we’ll keep you posted.

01:40 – Reasonable police presence here at the Guild Hall, just keeping a watchful eye over proceedings. Few candidates looking very nervous here tonight; rumours and whispers circling the green room and the Guild Hall floor.
01:20 – News has filtered in that they’re serving bacon butties in South Ribble, press area in the Guild Hall groans collectively. On a national scale, Labour have dropped two seats compared to 2005, whilst the Tories have gained one. No change for the Lib Dems.

01:00 – We’re still two hours away from the results here at Preston Guild Hall. Labour’s Mark Hendrick is now present, and an interview with him will hopefully be up shortly.

00:40 – At the last vote in 2005, 63,351 people were eligible to vote, whilst just 54% ended up going to the ballot boxes on polling day. With 61,187 are eligible this time round, will we see a larger percentage exercise their right to vote?

00:20 – A weird silence has fallen over the Guild Hall. Conservative candidate Nerissa Warner-O’Neill has arrived. The two aren’t linked, I’d like to add. A fair few Tories are present now.

00:00 – The clock’s turned midnight, and we now have supporters from all three of the major parties. Only Mark Jewell from the Lib Dems, and Richard Muirhead from the UK Independence Party, so far though. We’re yet to see Mark Hendrick (Labour); George Ambroze (Christian Party); Krishna Tayya (Independent) or Nerissa Warner-O’Neill (Conservative). There’s still plenty of time though.

23:40 – The Hall is getting slightly busier now, seems to be a big Labour & Lib Dem support here tonight, yet to see a Conservative however.

23:20 – It’s 2-0 to Labour now, as Washington & Sunderland West goes to Gordon Brown’s party, too. Liberal Democrat candidate for Preston, Mark Jewell, has appeared in the counting area of the Guild Hall.

23:00 – There’s boxes coming in thick and fast now. News of a Labour victory in Houghton & Sunderland South has trickled in – first blood to Labour. The result in Preston won’t be so speedy, I’m afraid.

22:40 – We’re live from the Preston Guild Hall. The count is underway. There’s no candidates in sight just yet, a handful of supporters and press are watching over those working their way through the ballot boxes.

All photographs courtesy of David Stubbings.