136 of 136 councils Counting complete
Counting has finished in both Swindon and Cheltenham
A last-minute twist in Cheltenham saw Reform earn its first seat on the council - although the Lib Dems maintained overall control
In Swindon, no party has control with none past the "magic 29" number
The Conservatives are the biggest party in the town - but without an overall majority
Labour has lost its majority but the party leader says he's willing to work with anyone - except Reform
Reform made gains in Swindon claiming 14 seats
While we will focus on Swindon and Cheltenham, you can also keep across what is happening across the UK here and find results in your area here
Bea Swallow
Live page reporter
The Greens have managed to hold onto another seat in Cheltenham as the ballot count for St Paul's ward falls in their favour.
If it's drama you're after, Cheltenham hasn't delivered today. In fact, none of the 19 wards so far have changed at all.
We are now awaiting one more outcome for Hesters Way ward - which is currently undergoing a recount.
The council has recorded an overall voter turnout of 44.41%.
Sammy Jenkins
Live page reporter
The Conservatives have got it.
The Shaw and Westlea ward has gone all blue.
Suresh Gattapur, Nandini Singh and Keith Robert Williams have been elected.
Bea Swallow
Live page reporter
The Liberal Democrats are firmly in control of Cheltenham Borough Council after earning 17 seats in the ongoing count.
Since our last recap, they have kept hold of the Pitville, Battledown, Landsdown and All Saints, Swindon Village, Spring Bank and Oakley wards.
Meanwhile, the Greens have only managed to hold onto one seat so far.
There was also a county council by-election which sees a Lib Dem hold, as councillor Dr David Willingham is replaced by councillor Victoria Atherstone.
Sammy Jenkins
Live page reporter
The Tories have taken Priory Vale in Swindon.
Conservatives Vinay Manro, Alex Hughes and Leanne Elizabeth Stevenson have been elected.
Paul Barltrop
Political Editor, West of England
It's looking a bit grim for the Greens in Swindon.
They went into this election with four councillors, but they were former Labour councillors who had defected in the last year. They've heavily focused their efforts on a couple of wards, but Swindon is a town where Greens have never previously won at the ballot box.
From what I'm hearing, they might fall short again this time.
Bea Swallow
Live page reporter
Cheltenham's local election count is well under way, with half of results revealed.
As the Lib Dems comfortably hold onto power and the Greens successfully defend a seat - we've been speaking to people at polling stations to find out who got their vote and why.
Sammy Jenkins
Live page reporter
The first result is in and it is for Rodbourne, Ferndale and Western.
Labour HOLD.
Jim Grant, Ana Fernandes and Kevin Small, all from Labour, have been re-elected.
Keen to hear your thoughts as Swindon is set to declare its first set of results.
Keep them coming via the contact form on this page (on the left hand side for desktop and at the top for mobile users)
Quote MessageRe Martin from Swindon at 13.12 - How do they envisage Reform shall resolve the debt? The prospective councillors had no idea pre-election, to go along with their lack of general plan or manifesto for the area. The Swindon debt has gone up less and at a lower percentage than neighbouring councils over the last year. Only Cheltenham performing better.
David in Swindon
Reform's Swindon chair, Sara Godwin, has been telling us that their campaign has been ""really rewarding" and the party has "got people thinking about things more".
Sammy Jenkins
Live page reporter
We are told by our reporters on the ground that the first result for Swindon is due very soon.
People have started to gather around the stage.
What will it be?
We will bring you the latest as we get it.
Esme Ashcroft
Political reporter, Gloucestershire
The borough council's longest serving councillor, Garth Barnes, has said there's been "lots of changes" since he was first elected.
Barnes, who has dedicated 40 years to the authority, said the town has grown and flourished over the decades.
One constant though - "potholes".
Garth Barnes has served as a councillor in Cheltenham for four decades
Bea Swallow
Live page reporter
As we await more results, here's a quick recap on how Cheltenham currently stands:
More of you have been getting in touch about your views and what you want the next Swindon Borough Council to look like, including Martin from Swindon.
He says:
Quote MessageHere’s hoping Reform gains the magic majority number of 29 seats. Despite Labour bringing out the big guns, Reform councillors need to look at why we are in so much debt.
Martin in Swindon
Do keep them coming via the contact form on this page (on the left hand side for desktop and at the top for mobile users)
Sophie Parker
Live page reporter, Swindon
The person overseeing everything is the returning officer - for Swindon Borough Council, that's Sam Mowbray.
It's a big operation - which she says is "powered by sugar", with lots of water and sweets being passed round.
As well as the counters, there are table supervisors, deputy returning officers and a central control team to input the numbers.
Some were here from 9pm last night until 2am in the morning and then started again at 11.15am today, then will be back tomorrow for the smaller parish councils.
She assures me that to be a counter you don't have to be good at maths, but "you have to be organised and accurate".
Sam adds that the turnout is higher than a normal local election, but not as high as a general.
Bea Swallow
Live page reporter
Yet another win for the Liberal Democrats in Cheltenham as they retain control of St Peter's Ward - with councillor Cathy Dearden taking over the seat from Dr David Willingham.
It adds to a growing run of victories for the party, as the yellow streak continues to spread across the borough.
Key priorities for the party include delivering affordable low-carbon housing, boosting local economic investment, protecting green spaces, improving road safety, and providing high-quality public services.
We're now halfway there, with 10 more wards to go...
Our Local Democracy Reporter Peter Davison, is also at the count this afternoon.
He asked the current council and Labour Leader Jim Robbins, who is marking his 10th election count, if the wait ever gets easier.
"Not really. This part is always nerve wracking when you've done the hard work of campaigning and now we just have to wait to get the results," Jim said.
Robbins has led the council for the past three years, work he said he was "really proud of".
"We'll be hoping to have persuaded as many people as possible to keep us going and re-electing Labour candidates is always a good thing.
"We're really proud of what we've achieved in Swindon and we really hope that we have the opportunity to continue that," he added.
Image source, Peter DavisonPaul Barltrop
Political Editor, West of England
I've been talking to activists from every party, and the one thing everyone agrees is that Labour is going to lose its majority.
Labour members are privately acknowledging they're going backwards, whilst still hoping to remain the largest party.
Reform are very bullish, knowing they will gain lots of seats, while not being sure they'll win enough to get a majority.
For the Conservatives, it looks like it's difficult, with one councillor privately telling me she thinks she's on her way out.
Bea Swallow
Live page reporter
Cheers have erupted among Cheltenham's Liberal Democrats, including MP Max Wilkinson, as they secure another win in Leckhampton Ward.
The area boasts another big turnout this year - with 55% of voters attending the polls.
Sammy Jenkins
Live page reporter
The count at the STEAM Museum in Swindon is in full swing, with some candidates looking on as the 88 ballot counters get to work.
Results won't come in for a little while yet but we will have them as they come in.
Bea Swallow
Live page reporter
It's another splash of yellow in Cheltenham as the Lib Dems retain control of St Marks ward, alongside Benhall, the Reddings and Fiddler's Green Ward.
With 12 wards still yet to declare, attention now turns to where the biggest swings, closest contests and surprise results could emerge.