Sammy Jenkins
Live page reporter

You've been getting in touch with us about your views on yesterday's election - including Andy Barnes from 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)

Bea Swallow
Live page reporter

The Lib Dems have just added Charlton Park to their list of victories - bringing their total to five wards in Cheltenham.

Meanwhile, Green councillor Jan Foster retains the seat in Prestbury Ward.

More than 50% of voters turned out - an unusually high figure for a local election and a sign of strong engagement at the polls this year.

Marie Lennon
Political reporter, Swindon

Candidates and party members are crowding round the counting tables, getting a glimpse of the ballot papers as they're counted in, and getting a sense of how

Labour have a keen eye on the bigger, more unpredictable wards of Badbury Park, Eldene and Liden and Shaw and Westlea. These are the suburban areas of Swindon where there are three councillors per ward.

Sophie Parker
Live page reporter

It's a good view from the balcony at the Steam Museum, where Swindon's railway past is in view: in the next room are steam locomotives and some visitors may be unaware that the town's future is being quite literally counted right next to its history.

The counting is under way with speed with leaders for each counting table walking about in orange high-vis and local politicians covered in rosettes all staring intently at the work.

Bea Swallow
Live page reporter

The Lib Dems have also held onto Up Hatherley, Warden Hill and College Ward as results continue to filter in - solidifying the party's grip on the council.

Councillors only needed three seats out of 18 to maintain control.

Bea Swallow
Live page reporter

Results are beginning to emerge in Cheltenham as votes are counted up.

The Liberals Democrats have maintained control in Park Ward, with Karen Priest winning there.

The party currently run Cheltenham Borough Council with 36 of the 40 seats - well above the 21 needed for a majority.

Bea Swallow
Live page reporter

There was a lovely moment, just before counting began in Swindon, where all the counters did a Mexican wave.

Everybody loves a little morale boost, right?

Sammy Jenkins
Live page reporter

The ballot boxes are open and the count has begun at the town's STEAM museum.

There are 88 people counting the ballots.

The whole of Swindon Borough Council is up for grabs.

Who will come out on top?

We will bring you updates as we have it.

Edward Rowe
Political reporter, Gloucestershire

The Liberal Democrats won big last time Cheltenham held elections.

So big they wiped out the Conservatives despite the latter getting the second largest vote share of any party.

Whilst the success was good news for the party in 2024 it makes things more difficult this time around. 18 of the seats being defended at this election are orange, whilst two are being defended by the Greens.

For parties on the right of British politics the Conservatives will be hoping for a comeback and Reform UK to get their first crop of councillors on Cheltenham Borough Council.

The Greens are also hoping for gains but it would take a enormous swing away from the Liberal Democrats to dislodge the party from power in the town.

Marie explains why 29 is the magic number in Swindon.

Marie Lennon
Political reporter, Swindon

Returning officer Sam Mowbray has been rallying the 88 counters before 11am with a seated Mexican Wave.

Most of these volunteers and staff members were here late last night verifying the votes and didn't get enough sleep, but still managing some whooping and hollering.

She says "some of the contests could be tight, I have no idea at all where this election is going".

She told them to work in pairs, double check, and try and enjoy themselves. This is a big count for Swindon, with every seat being voted on, and a high turnout.

Esme Ashcroft
Political reporter, Gloucestershire

I've just caught up with the former Conservative group leader on Cheltenham Borough Council, Tim Harman.

He, like all of the Tories, lost his seat on the council in 2024, but has stood again this year.

He says getting a single councillor elected would be a "good result" for the party today.

He also showed me a email from the national party leader, Kemi Badenoch, thanking him for his efforts.

Sammy Jenkins
BBC News, Live page reporter

Like others across the country, big retailers are leaving Swindon's town centre and issues around anti-social behaviour stubbornly remain.

Small businesses are also struggling to keep going.

Many of the issues are not within the council's control. But what would they do?

Speaking to Marie Lennon ahead of polling day, Liz Mearns for the Liberal Democrats, and the Green Party's Tom Butcher said the town needs mixed uses, including housing, entertainment and retail offerings, and solutions to improve rural transport into Swindon.

Meanwhile, Labour's Jim Robbins said voters should trust the current council.

He said they were making progress, proved by the government pledging £20m for an entertainment venue in the town.

The Conservative's Gary Sumner said his party "wouldn't have increased parking charges" and claimed the town's planned new entertainment venue would not bring in the footfall needed.

James Ward, from Reform, said investors were looking at the town, and that attracting commerce was the key to unlocking the local economy.

Esme Ashcroft
Political reporter, Gloucestershire

We're racing through proceedings here in Cheltenham, with verification for most wards already complete.

Counting has now started, and we should hopefully get those all important turnout numbers shortly.

Esme and Edward have the key things to watch for.

Marie Lennon
Political reporter, Swindon

As we previously said, turnout for the Swindon Borough Council was 43.7%, which is the highest for a stand alone local election in the borough for several years.

There were 239 candidates standing across six political parties, so perhaps the scale of the campaigning inspired more people to turn up to vote.

Elections here were held in thirds, but it was decided to switch to all out elections from this year, so every council seat has been up for grabs.

Esme Ashcroft
Political reporter, Gloucestershire

Alongside the live blog, Edward and I are doing live reports on BBC Radio Gloucestershire throughout the day.

You can listen to the station live in the watch & listen tab on this page.

Verification is still ticking along here in Cheltenham, One Lib Dem spokesperson said they are anticipating a few recounts here, as some of the wards look to be quite tight.

Edward Rowe
Political reporter, Gloucestershire

Yesterday I spent an hour outside Cheltenham Cricket Club which had transformed itself into a polling station for the Battledown ward.

As people came in and out I asked them how they voted. Cheltenham resident Simon Thorne said: "The Lib Dem chap keeps knocking on my door and he seems to be doing a good job so I thought right, I'll go and vote for him."

Others felt change was needed. Sheila Blackmore "voted with her heart rather than her head" in this election, saying she usually votes Lib Dem but decided instead to vote Green, concerned about the impact of building houses on the environment.

Others felt change was needed in the other direction, saying "Reform was the answer" to the problems they felt politics wasn't solving in their lives.

The most interesting thing about the people I spoke to was not one of them said they were voting Conservative.

Battledown was a key Conservative seat but they lost it in 2024 without another right-wing party jostling for votes.

We don't know if the Tories will be able to regain the seat but it does show how politics is shifting from the two main parties.

All hands on deck at Tommy Taylor's Lane.

Esme Ashcroft
Political reporter, Gloucestershire

The ballot boxes have been tipped out and verification has started in Tommy Taylor's Lane.

Election agents are busy trying to get a sense of turnout and numbers, but it's still too early to tell.

We're expecting counting to start around 11.30am, with the results declared at around 1.30pm.