Labour hold strong in 2016 Ipswich Borough Council local elections

It was a bad night for the Tories in Ipswich - and a great one for Labour as they gained two seats on the borough council.

Oliver Holmes wins St Margarets Ward at the local election count at Ipswich Corn Exchange.

Of the 17 seats up for grabs, Labour won 13, the Tories three and the Lib Dems one.

Labour gained Sprites and Holywells Wards from the Tories, the latter was won by just 10 votes. It is the first time Labour have won the seat.

There were no other changes, party wise, although there will be some new faces in the council chamber.

Tracy Grant wins Stoke Park Ward at the local election count at Ipswich Corn Exchange.

Political reporter Paul Geater was at the count and as it drew to a close, he tweeted: “Bad, bad night for Ipswich Tories. Great for Labour. Relief for Lib Dems. Over and out.”

Earlier, Paul tweeted to say: “Turn out across Ipswich 33%. Pretty much what I’d expected this year?”

And added: “Biggest turn out in Ipswich St Margaret’s - as always - on 47%. Lowest turn out Westgate on 26%.”

There was a county council by-election held in Bixley Ward and the seat was been held by the Tories.

Ipswich Borough Council election results 2016

Alexandra Ward

Adam Leeder (L) - Lab hold with 550 majority

Bixley Ward

John Carnall (C) - Cons hold with 527 majority

Bridge Ward

Bryony Rudkin (L) - Lab hold with 468 majority

Castle Hill Ward (two seats):

Ian Fisher (C), Robin Vickery (C) - Con hold

Gainsborough Ward

Stephen Connelly (L) 1,059 - Lab hold with 565 majority

Gipping Ward:

David Ellesmere (L) - Lab hold with 462 majority

Holywells Ward

Barry Studd (L) - Lab gain from Con with majority of 10

Priory Heath Ward

Sarah Barber (L) - Lab hold with 450 majority

Rushmere Ward

Alasdair Ross (L) - Lab hold with 573 majority

Sprites Ward

Colin Smart (L) - Lab gain from Con with majority of 300

St Margaret’s Ward

Oliver Holmes (LD) - Lib Dem hold with 172 majority

St Johns Ward

Neil Macdonald (L) - Lab hold with 600 majority

Stoke Park Ward

Tracy Grant (L) - Lab hold with 20 majority

Westgate Ward

Carole Jones (L) - Lab hold with 535 majority

Whitehouse Ward

Glen Chisholm (L) - Lab hold with 390 majority

Whitton Ward

Sophie Meudec (L) - Lab hold with 300 majority

County Council by-elections

Bixley Ward, Ipswich

Paul West (C) 1,117 (elected); Rob Bridgeman (L) 634. C majority 483

Key: L= Labour, C= Conservative, LD= Liberal Democrats

The police and crime commissioner votes will be counted from lunchtime, check back for results later in the day.