Election night live

Candidates are predicting hard fights in several wards but no overall changes in control in Bournemouth, Poole and Christchurch.

Talk around the hall at 11pm is that the Kinson North seats of Bournemouth Lib Dem leader and deputy Richard and Claire Smith have been targetted by Labour.

Former Conservative leader Stephen MacLoughlin is said to be at risk of failing to get a seat in Queen's Park.

He stepped down as leader after pornography was found on his laptop.

The Conservatives hope to gain Lisa Northover's Lib Dem seat in Boscombe West.

The turnouts in the Bournemouth wards to declare so far range from 25.4 per cent in Central and 40.1 in Strouden Park.

Bournemouth East MP Tobias Ellwood is predicting a 'no' verdict on the AV vote.

Based on interest at the tables, close votes are expected in Queens Park, Boscombe East and West, and West Southbourne.

Christchurch's turn out is 48.7 per cent.

There is a close battle between the Conservatives and Lib Dems for the Grange ward.

Former Lib Dem councillor Bron Littlewood, who was due to become Mayor when she lost her seat in 2007, now counting votes here at Bournemouth's Littledown Centre.

Poole's first result at around 1.30am is a two seat Conservative hold in Branksome East.

Views from Bournemouth at 1.50am.

Lib Dem Pat Lewis in Kinson North said: "It is too close to call but I think the conservatives have the edge."

Tory David Kelsey for Eastcliff and Springbourne predicts Lib Dem Lisa Northover has lost her Boscombe West seat.

Conservatives fighting in Winton East were predicting it would be a close two-horse race with Labour.

Labour's Ben Grower, Kinson South, said he was surprised the AV vote had not boosted turnout.

He added: "We hope to hold our seats and pick up a few more."

A visibly upset Cllr Claire Smith, leader of the Lib Dem group, said: "I think we're getting a national kicking."

She said feedback on the doorstep had been positive during the campaign but added: "Unfortunately a lot of people have wanted to send a message to Nick Clegg.

"I think we're going to lose some really well respected, hard-working councillors tonight and that's a shame.

"But there's a huge responsibility on those candidates that do take those seats that they look after the people in those wards and not just feel that they have a God-given right because they wear a blue rosette."

No change in Poole's Canford Heath - two Lib Dems get in, Chris Matthews and Phil Goodall.

At 2.05am, we asked Bournmouth's ex-leader Stephen MacLoughlin on his allegedly poor prospects in Queen's Park - 'no comment'.

The Tories have taken all six of the seats to declare so far in Christchurch.

That's three holds, two gains from the Lib Dems, and one from an independent, in Portfield, Grange and Highcliffe.

Announcement in Bournemouth at 2.30am:

Turnout in Bournemouth for the AV referendum was 37.46 per cent, with 49,629 votes cast.

Surprise news from Hamworthy East in Poole.

Charmaine Parkinson from The Poole People's Party has taken a seat from the Conservatives.

She said: "We are going to be more responsive to people's needs."

In Bournemouth, senior Tory Rob Lawton said they are 'very pleased' with the early indications.

He said: "People are happy with what we have done with efficiency savings. Generally the Lib Dem vote has not held up and Labour has got stronger."

By 3am, Conservatives with 21 out of 24 seats in Christchurch.

Talk from the Bournemouth election floor at 3am.

Looking bad for the Lib Dems in Redhill and Northbourne. "It's an appalling night," said one party figure.

Anne Rey's independent group look set to get back in at Throop and Muscliffe.

But she said: "If the town wants a big majority of Conservatives again, the town deserves what it gets, because they are a load of rubbish."

At 3am, Bournemouth finally announced its first result, with the Conservatives holding the traditionally safe seat of Central.

As of 3.05am, Poole had declared results in seven of its 16 wards, with nine seats going to the Tories, five to the Lib Dems and one to the Poole People's Party.

In Bournemouth, the vote for Boscombe West confirms sole Lib Dem Lisa Northover has lost her seat to the Tories.

She told the Echo: "I think it's a reflection of the national situation.

"I haven't experienced any personal negativity on the doorstep."

The Conservatives held the safe seat of Talbot and Branksome Woods, with the Green candidate out-polling the Lib Dems by one vote.

At 3.30am, another crushing victory for the Conservatives in Bournmouth's Eastcliff and Springbourne.

Martin Broad, the Lib Dem campaign manager, told us: "I'm very proud of the fact that across the borough we have presented a fair, open and hard working campaign on local issues.

"Clearly we have done badly locally, and clearly nationally even worse.

"It's a message that locally we will take on board and we will pass on to our national team."

At 3.50am, a pretty emomtional looking Lib Dm Leader Claire Smith awaits the Kinson North result - no party wins so far.

Tory deputy leader John Beesley told the Echo: "I think we have run a very positive campaign.

"And we have got a good track record over the past four years."

What do the results say about the national coalition?

"I haven't experienced very much on the doorstep to do with the coalition or central Government."

At 4.30am, the Lib Dems finally see their first victory of the night, with Roger West and Sue Levell holding their seats in Redhill and Northbourne.

They are elected alongside Conservative council leader Peter Charon, who tops the poll in the ward and says he is pleased that his personal vote has risen.

He tells the Daily Echo: "If we end up at about the same majority we had last time, that would be a fantastic result."

At 5.45am, returning officer Pam Donnellan announces the last result, with three seats subject to recounts starting at noon on Friday.

The state of the parties is Conservatives 40, Independents 3, Lib Dems 2, meaning the recounts will decide which group makes up the opposition on the heavily Tory-controlled council.