01.25AM: The candidates for the bottom four parties left Ilford Town Hall pretty quickly after the result was announced, leaving only over-joyed Conservative and Lib Dem supporters. However we've all been kicked out of the town hall by council staff who look completely shattered by the whole evening. So I guess it looks like the night has come to an end. See the Redbridge News section of this website for more by-election news, interviews and analysis over the next 24 hours.

01.07AM: The result in full:

Alex Wilson, Conservatives1,300

Kate Garrett, Lib Dems1,030

Ross Hatfull, Labour694

Ashley Gunstock, Greens256

John Evans, BNP171

Nick Jones, UKIP33

12.58AM: The Conservatives have won - but the Lib Dems came close. More to follow.

12.40AM: Bundles of voting papers are being re-checked, but there will not be a full 'proper' recount.

12.21AM: The counting has finished. But the night doesn't look like it's going to be over yet. There's lots of frantic discussions going on between election officials. Rumours sweeping the room there may have to be a recount.

11.56PM: Well it looks like the predictions of a result before midnight were not entirely accurate. The votes have all been counted but it's the double-checking and counting which is taking time...

11.47PM: Conservative council leader Alan Weinberg is here, along with the new leader of his party in Redbridge, Cllr Keith Prince. Cllr Weinberg was recently ousted from party leadership in a party coup. Perhaps unsurprisingly they are at opposite ends of the room, and I haven't seen them talk to each other yet. The count appears to be nearing its final stages. Can't be long now.

11.35PM: Election officials have just announced the turnout for the election was 40.7 per cent - that's pretty impressive for a local vote. Several people even gasped at the figure.

11.24PM: I think we may be nearing the end of the count. Some are predicting we'll be getting a result in about 20 minutes. There's a lot of people anxiously walking around the room...

10.51PM: One of the reasons the Conservatives are favourites to win tonight is that the former councillor for this seat - Cllr Allan Burgess - was a true blue Tory and held on to power for almost two decades. Of course, this by-election was called following his death earlier this year, and most of the candidates acknowledge whoever replaces him will have big shoes to fill. Meanwhile, counting is continuing in earnest.

10.44PM: Technical difficulties are delaying updates here slightly, but work is being done to rectify the problem. So My Larry from Walthamstow suggests a swingometer - hmmm... could be an idea...

10.27: The counting is underway. Representatives from all the parties now seem to be here, and are keeping close watch on proceedings. So, the obvious question is who will win? The Conservatives are the favourites, and some people from both the Labour Party and the Greens in Redbridge have admitted to the Guardian they expect a Tory win. But you never know. Whatever happens, it will be interesting to see how the smaller parties do - namely the BNP, the Greens and UKIP. Wanstead is untested ground for the BNP, while the Greens and UKIP both claim to have attracted increasing support.

10.21PM: More ballot boxes are now arriving. How long will it take for the votes to be counted? The votes in the last by-election in Redbridge, in Valentines ward, took just over an hour to count. But Wanstead could be another matter entirely. Although it probably won't take as long as India's current general election, which kicked off last week. That election will last at least a month from the first votes to the count in May.

10.10PM: The first ballot box has arrived. Counting is expected to get underway at about 10.30pm here in Ilford Town Hall. Representatives from the Green Party, UKIP and Labour have already arrived.

10PM:The polls have closed.

9PM: Just one hour to go until the polls close at 10pm.

BACKGROUND:

THE people of Wanstead ward are voting today (Thursday) to decide who will become their new voice in the council chamber.

Six candidates are all vying to win the by-election, which was called following the death of popular Cllr Allan Burgess in February.

Cllr Burgess served in the seat for almost two decades, and most of the candidates agree they have big shoes to fill.

The favourite to win tonight is Tory nominee Alex Wilson. The Conservatives have a strong track-record of election wins in Wanstead and the ward’s other two councillors are also Conservative, as was Cllr Burgess.

However other parties such as Labour, the Lib Dems and the Greens have all said they believe there has been a shift among the electorate, and are confident they have a chance of victory tonight.

The candidates have been pounding the streets of Wanstead over the past few weeks, with residents being deluged with leaflets and newsletters all urging them to get out and vote.

Voters today can choose from three polling stations.

They are: Snaresbrook Football and Cricket Club Pavilion in Nutter Lane, Wanstead Leisure Centre in Redbridge Lane West, and Aldersbrook Primary School in Harpenden Road.

The candidates are: John Evans (BNP), Kate Garrett (Lib Dems), Ashley Gunstock (Green Party), Ross Hatfull (Labour), Nick Jones (UKIP) and Alex Wilson (Conservatives).