RECAP: How Sunderland City Council local elections 2021 unfolded as Labour took a battering in Wearside

It was a tough night for Labour in Sunderland

The final results for the Sunderland City Council local elections are now in.

The Echo team worked through the night to keep readers up-to-date with the results as they came in. Here’s how the count unfolded:

Sunderland City Council elections 2021

Key Events

Labour suffered heavy damage from the Lib Dems and Tories
Cabinet member Rebecca Atkinson and former deputy council leader Michael Mordey are among Labour councillors to lose seats
The new breakdown of seats on Sunderland City Council is Labour 42, Conservatives 18, Lib Dems 12 and UKIP 3

Thu, 06 May, 2021, 21:08 GMT

The final hour

We’re now into the last hour of voting. Polling stations close at 10pm - so make a dash for it if you’re still planning to vote.

Thu, 06 May, 2021, 21:17 GMT

Thu, 06 May, 2021, 21:18 GMT

Thu, 06 May, 2021, 21:23 GMT

Thu, 06 May, 2021, 22:14 GMT

The count in Sunderland is usually a frenzied sea of activity, but social-distancing and other covid-secure measures mean things are quite different this year. There is certainly no rush to be first.

Thu, 06 May, 2021, 22:19 GMT

Thu, 06 May, 2021, 22:39 GMT

Pictures show some of the covid-secure measures in use at the count

Thu, 06 May, 2021, 22:40 GMT

Reporter James Harrison: “Consider yourselves warned - Sunderland returning officer Pat Melia has just promised to send home anyone who isn’t following social distancing rules tonight. ‘We’ve done this for a year - please do it properly tonight.’”

Thu, 06 May, 2021, 22:48 GMT

I dump ‘em, you count ‘em

Thu, 06 May, 2021, 23:01 GMT

Returning officer Pat Melia is the man in the grey suit. He is overseeing the count, though his day job is as Sunderland City Council’s chief executive.