Labour's David Skaith was elected mayor of York and North Yorkshire at Harrogate Convention Centre today.
Mr Skaith will be paid £81,300-a-year to lead the new York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, overseeing an annual budget of £18 million. He will have new devolved powers from Westminster and will champion the largest geographical region of any mayor.
Here's a look back at today's election count at Harrogate Convention Centre.
2.41pm: Keane Duncan magnanimous in defeat
The Conservative candidate was well beaten but he applauded winner David Skaith and is giving interviews now to a long list of journalists.
We have grabbed a word with him and all the other candidates. Look out for extensive reaction and analysis on the Stray Ferret over the next few days.
2.34pm: Final vote
2.29pm: Clear win for Labour
David Skaith is giving his acceptance speech. The final result was drowned out but he beat Conservative Keane Duncan by about 15,000 votes.
2.24pm: LABOUR'S DAVID SKAITH WINS!
2.20pm: Candidates reappear
Poker faces all round but someone just shook David Skaith's hand. Has he won? We are awaiting the announcement.
2.08pm: Candidates being told results
Returning officer Richard Flinton announces provisional results being shared with candidates and election agents. They have disappeared into a room.
The result should follow very soon, unless one of the candidates is granted a recount.
This is tense — nobody seems to be making any confident predictions but most people are leaning towards Labour's David Skaith.
2.05pm: Result expected imminently
A media person has just told us 'don't go for any long walks' as a result is due very soon.
2pm: David Skaith returns
The elusive Labour candidate is back in the building, looking understandably pensive.
1.49pm: Result within the hour?
A big screen here at Harrogate Convention Centre shows the counts at the four other locations, and all appear to have finished.
That could mean a result is not far away. We are hearing it could be as soon as half an hour. But there is also the possibility of a recount if it is close.
1.35pm: Will high turnout help Tories?
There is speculation that the higher than expected turnout could suit the Conservatives.
There were fears among Tories that many of their voters would stay at home but the 30% turnout has buoyed hopes that a good proportion did register their votes yesterday.
A 30% turnout may not seem that high but by comparison, the final North Yorkshire Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner election, won by Conservative Zoe Metcalfe in 2021, attracted a 14% turnout.
Remember, the commissioner's role will be taken over by the new mayor.
1.29pm: Nervous moments as result looms
There's not much happening now. But the result can ony happen as fast as the slowest count. We understand one of the two Scarborough counts has finished but there are also counts in Northallerton and York.
We managed a word with Keane Duncan, who seems cheerful and agredd to pose for a photo but declined to comment until afterwards.
There is still no great certainty here, other than that it's a two-horse race between the Conservatives and Labour, whose candidate David Skaith has not been seen since his brief appearance earlier.
1.05pm: Conservative candidate Keane Duncan arrives
Conservative candidate Keane Duncan has arrived, which means all six candidates have been spotted at Harrogate Convention Centre. He's smiling and chatting with local Conservatives but these must be nervous moments.
Still no sign of Andrew Jones or Tom Gordon.
12.44pm: Labour still saying 'too close to call'
About the only people not predicting a Labour victory here today are the Labour Party.
We just had a quick word with the regional media team who said they were very wary of predictions, and were still waiting for updates from the other counts taking place in York, Scarborough and Northallerton.
David Skaith has still not returned since his brief appearance earlier. The only other candidate who does not appear to be in the room here is Conservative Keane Duncan.
12.29pm: Ben Houchen wins - good omen for Tories?
Conservative Ben Houchen has just been declared the winner of the Tees Valley mayoral election. Some were predicting his defeat — is this a good sign for the Tories a few miles south in North Yorkshire?
12.02pm: Lib Dem candidate thinks she will finish third
It appears to be a straight fight between the Conservatives and Labour, with most people predicting a Labour win — but nobody appears to be doing so with any great certainty.
Lib Dem candidate Felicity Cunliffe-Lister says it looks like she may finish third. She adds:
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