Have you ever been to an election count? It’s an exciting place to be.

I was at the count in South Shields for BBC Newcastle as it all started:

South Tyneside Council became even more of a Labour stronghold.

This is how it looked as the results came flooding in:

In Thursday’s elections Labour held 9 seats and swung another 9 off independent candidates and the South Tyneside Progressives to bring them up to controlling 92% of the council.

It was a bad night for the Independent Alliance but the Conservatives managed to hold on to the one seat they have on the council: Jeff Milburn’s.

He wasn’t there to hear the news as he was in hospital – but his wife was: