POLLING stations across Thurrock opened at 7am today (Thursday, 2 May) as residents got to cast their vote for 17 council seats, which will be occupied for a year.

There were some initial delays at some stations as the first votors arrived as staff manning the polls got used to a new digital system which records those who vote.

And anyone wishing to vote has to have photographic identification.

Next May voters will again be called upon, this time to choose all 49 councillors as the government-imposed new system of a four yearly cycle of elections comes into play.

Today, voters in all wards were also asked to vote on a new Police and Crime Commissioner. Candidates are Robin Tilbrook (English democrats), Adam Fox (Labour), Roger Hirst (Conservative) and Kieron Franks (Lib-Dem).

Observers and forecasters in Thurock are predicting a good day for Labour candidates, with the party widely expected to take control of the council after eight years of Conservative administration.

All the contested seats have candidates from both mainstream parties but there are a number of other candidates, including the Green Party and seven independent candidates.

Two-councillor wards at Little Thurrock Rectory, Stifford Clays, Tilbury Riverside and Thurrock Park will not be contested this year.

Votes for the council elections will be counted this evening and into the early hours of tomorrow with first results expected around midnight. You can follow the outcomes on the Thurrock Nub News' live blog which will be updated as each ward vote is declared, with comments from candidates and party officials as the count progresses.

Police and Fire Commissioner votes will be counted tomorrow afternoon.

The candidates (*councillors currently elected):

Aveley and Uplands

Augustine Onanaji (Con - *currently represents South Chafford), Cathy Sisterson (Lab)

Belhus

Georgette Polley* (Con), Victoria Holloway (Lab)

Chadwell St Mary

Charlie Taylor-Webb (Con), Ngozi Alike (Lab)

Chafford & North Stifford

Adam Carter (Con - *Currently represents Chadwell St Mary), Lynda Heath (Lab), Bisi Sowunmi (Ind)

Corringham & Fobbing

Shane Ralph (Con), James Mackinlay (Lab), John Fox (Ind)

East Tilbury

Shamim Miah (Con), Alastair Craft (Lab), Sue Sammons* (Ind)

Grays Riverside

Bunmi Ojetola (Con), Tony Fish* (Lab) Daniel Fallows (Green Party)

Grays Thurrock

Joglur Rahman (Con), John Kent* (Lab)

Little Thurrock Blackshots

Joy Redsell* (Con), Michael Fletcher (Lab), Magun Singh (Green Party)

Ockendon

Luke Spillman* (Con), Ryan Polston (Lab)

Orsett

David Day (Con), Carl Morris (Lab), Jack Duffin (Ind - *Currently represents Stanford East and Corringham Town)

South Chafford

Tunde Ojetola (Con), Gary Watson (Lab), Caitlin Fallows (Green Party)

Stanford East & Corringham Town

George Wright (Con), Ajay Kapoor (Lab), Roy Jones (Ind)

Stanford-le-Hope West

Terry Piccolo* (Con), Philip Smith (Lab), Ross Byrne (Ind)

The Homesteads

Allen Mayes (Con), Clifford Holloway (Lab), Lisa Sargent (Ind)

Tilbury St Chads

Daryl Palmer (Con), Kairen Raper* (Lab)

West Thurrock and South Stifford

Elisabeta Blaj (Con), Lee Watson* (Lab), Ri Goodyear (Green Party)

Some polling stations have changed this year so registered voters are encouraged to check their card carefully. Polling hours on Thursday, May 2 are from 7am until 10pm.

Inbformation about Thurrock elections and voting: https://www.thurrock.gov.uk/elections-and-voting