REFORM UK look set for a landslide takeover of Thurrock Council when votes in the local election are counted later today (Friday, 8 May).

Following polling across the borough yesterday, ballot boxes were taken to the count HQ at the Civic Hall, Blackshots, where they were emptied and the number of ballot papers submitted counted.

All papers have either two or three councillor posts at stake and the actual counting will follow on Friday morning and afternoon. It is expected the seats with two councillors will be counted and declared first.

Turnout appears high across the borough, with some wards having turnouts of between 40 and 50 per cent - an unusually high figure for local elections which is being attributed to new Reform UK voters coming out to make their views felt.

Looking most dejected as the outcome started to unfold were Conservatives who could end up with no seats on a council they controlled just two years ago. Labour don't appear to have fared much better with estimates of six to eight seats at best, according to party analysts who watched the papers being sorted.

Nub News will bring you the results as they are declared throughout the day on Friday.