The results of the first ever Harrogate Town Council election were declared today.

The Stray Ferret published a live blog at the count at Harrogate Convention Centre. Here's how the day unfolded.

Use the comment section below to have your say. 

1.26pm: Further reaction to come

We are being asked to leave Harrogate Convention Centre as the place has emptied. We have interviewed all the parties - look for further reaction and analysis over the weekend.

1.10pm A great day for the Lib Dems

The Lib Dems have won 15 seats, the Tories 2, Reform UK 1 and an independent 1. 

1.04pm: Top Tory squeezes home by two votes

A good note to end a bad day for the Tories, as Michael Harrison, a member of the executive on North Yorkshire Council, squeezes home by two votes after a recount in Saltergate. In his acceptance speech, he says he looks forward to the Tories holding the Lib Dems to account, rather than the usual vice-versa.

12.44pm: More Lib Dem success

This is starting to sound rather repetitive. Two more wins for the Lib Dems, with Patrick Milne in Stray and Graham Dixon in Harlow elected.

12.41pm: Lib Dem landslide

It's turning into a rout. The Lib Dems have won 12 of 15 wards declared. Patrick Milne is the latest winner.

12.32pm: Lib Dems win election!

Mark Warr in Pannal wins the crucial 10th seat for the Lib Dems who will have control of Harrogate Town Council. They've just won an 11th seat too.

12.28pm: First win for Tories

Elizabeth Jackson takes Oatlands for the Tories. But moments earlier Viv Poskitt won the Lib Dems' ninth seat.

12.24pm: Lib Dems on the brink

The Lib Dems have now won eight of 10 seats declared after Chrissie Holmes takes Starbeck and David Allardyce wins in Bilton Grange.

12.21pm: Another win for the Lib Dems

Jennifer Travena takes Fairfax for the Liberal Democrats. This is looking ominous. That's five in a row for the Lib Dems. Another five would give them a majority and control of the town council. The Tories haven't got a seat yet.

12.16pm: Lib Dems on course to win?

Two more wins for the Lib Dems. Count councillors Andrew Timothy (pictured above) and Chris Aldred are named as winners. It's looking very good for the Lib Dems and very bad for the Tories and Labour. Cllr Aldred says: "We know the way it's going, it's going orange."

12.12pm: More success for Lib Dems - Tory Anthony Murphy defeated

A third seat for the Lib Dems. Josy Thompson takes Duchy, defeating Conservative Anthony Murphy, the candidate at the centre of Stray Ferret revelations about historic homophobia. 

12.06am: Two wins for Lib Dems

Wins for Monika Slater in New Park and Austin Wildmore in Coppice Valley mean the Lib Dems have won their first two seats, with four results declared.

12.01pm Current state of play

11.50am: Reform wins first seat

Reform UK has won the second seat declared — Bilton Woodfield.

David Thornton Goodall takes it with 344 votes well ahead of the Lib Dems in second with 268. Local Tory party chair Rebecca Reeve-Burnett is third with 127.

11.44am: First results

Indepenedent Paul Haslam has won Old Bilton. The county cuncillor finished with 397 votes, ahead of Reform UK with 237, Lib Dems with 235 and the Conservatives with 121.

11.32am Rumour mill

It wouldn't be an election count without rumours. The media isn't allowed into the countiing area but the feedback from candidates that have been is that it's looking good for the Lib Dems and bad for the Conservatives. Reform appears to be doing well, but it's difficult to know whether they will win many seats or finish second in quite a few. All this is unofficial... the actual results will be known soon.

11.31am: Tension builds

All the turnout figures have been announced now. It's starting to get serious, with the results not far away. 

North Yorkshire councillors Arnold Warneken and Paul Haslam share a friendly moment amidst the political bearpit. Paul Haslam is standing as an independent in Old Bilton.

11.24am: More turnout figures

Here they are:

Central 31%

St George's 38%

Bilton Grange 30%

New Park 24%

Stray 38%

Duchy 40%

Kingsley 27%

Hookstone 29%

High Harrogate 24%

Harlow 35%

11.19am: Reform on a roll?

Will Reform UK's national success be replicated in Harrogate? Jonathan Swales, who is a candidate in Pannal and chairs the local party, is here at the count. 

11am: Turnout figures for Woodfield and Starbeck

Turnout is 27% in Bilton Woodfield and 29% in Starbeck.

10.55am: Former MP Andrew Jones present

Andrew Jones, the Conservative MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough for 14 years until 2024, is at the count. Here he is talking to Green Party North Yorkshire councillor Arnold Warneken. 

10.51am: MP Tom Gordon at count

Tom Gordon, the Liberal Democrat MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, is part of a large Lib Dem contingent here.

10.45am: More turnout figures

Turnout is 26% in Coppice Valley, which is one of the seats Labour is targeting. Pannal has the highest turnout so far at 41% and Fairfax's figure us 24% - the lowest so far.

10.41am Who will win the most seats?

Remember, 10 is the magic number to secure a majority on the 19-seat council. Some here are expecting the Lib Dems to get the most seats, but Reform UK's strong national showing has put the cat among the pigeons. Some are also predicting a hung council with no party securing an overall majority. 

10.33am: First turnout figure

The turnout for Old Bilton, which has five candidates, including the only two independents up for election across all 19 wards, has been given at 36.4%, which is higher than many people were expecting.

10.12am: Results at midday?

With 19 wards up for grabs, it is fairly busy at the count although more people are expected soon. Only two indepednents are standing, and they are in the same ward, so there is a strong party political fever. There is speculation the results could be in by midday but that depends on the turnout, which may have been boosted by yesterday's warm weather. and the speed of the count.

10.02am: Verification commences

Deputy returning officer Barry Khan ihas just gone through proceedings ahead of the verification process, which is now underway. He warns that "any disruptive hehaviour will not be tolerated". The verification process ensures that all ballot papers are brought to the count and is now underway. The rustling of papers is audible.

A full list of candidates is available here.