Local election count begins in Kent
Phil Harrison/BBCLocal election results are being counted in Kent to determine who will control the county council for the next four years.
Some 800 polling stations opened in Kent on Thursday as all 72 electoral divisions across the county were up for election - equating to 81 councillors in total.
The Conservatives had overall control of the authority with 56 of the 81 councillors before the vote.
Counting started on Friday morning and results were expected by 19:00 BST.
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage told BBC Radio Kent: "It's looking a very good day for us in Kent, I'm being told it could even be a majority win for us. That will help the celebrations tonight."
Who has been in charge?
Before the 2025 vote, the council was made up of 55 Conservatives, six Liberal Democrats, five Labour councillors (including Labour and Co-operative), five Green Party members, four Independent councillors, three Reform UK members, one Heritage Party councillor, one Swale Independents councillor, and there was one vacancy.
Kent County Council has been Conservative-run for most of its existence.
Since it was created in its current format in 1974, it has had a Conservative leader for all but four years, as between 1993 and 1997 the authority was led by joint leaders from Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
In 1997, the Conservatives won their majority back, which they have held onto since, although their authority was shaken in the 2013 election when Ukip became the second largest party on the council, before losing all their seats four years later.
What happened at the last election?
In the last county council election in 2021, the Conservatives won 49% of the vote, securing 61 seats.
In terms of seats won, the Lib Dems came second with six, Labour got five and the Green Party secured four.
Reform UK did not win any seats.
Kent County Council is responsible for a wide range of services in education, transport, social care, libraries, housing, planning applications, council tax collections and waste.
Are local authorities changing?
This could be the last time Kent residents are asked to elect county councillors, as local government could be reorganised in the next four years.
Neighbouring councils such as Surrey, and East and West Sussex have had their elections cancelled this year because they have been selected to be part of a priority programme for local government reorganisation.
The government wants to create unitary authorities in each county that are responsible for all local services and are overseen by a directly-elected mayor - similar to London and Manchester.
It is thought the structure will pave the way for more devolution of power - meaning local leaders are given more money and autonomy.
Kent and Medway had applied to be part of the priority programme, but were not successful.
In most of Kent, borough, district and city councils act as a second tier of local government and have different responsibilities, like deciding where homes can be built.
There are no district, borough or city council elections in Kent this year.
The set up is different in Medway, where council services are run through a unitary authority, which is one council in charge of all local services.
Medway Council held its last election in May 2023, so it's not due one this year.
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