5.20am

The Liberal Democrats have replaced Labour as the main challengers to the Conservatives for the Epping Forest seat in Parliament. While Eleanor Laing’s vote held firm, Labour’s fell by nearly 3,000 to 6,641.

They dropped to third place behind the Liberal Democrats whose vote increased from 8,279 to 10,017.

The BNP increased their vote by just 254 to 1,982, but the vote for UKIP nearly doubled from 1,014 to 1,852.

The swing from Labour to the Conservatives of 6.8 per cent would put the Tories on the very brink of an absolute majority in the next Parliament if repeated nationwide.

4.45am

Speaking after her victory Mrs Laing said she was “absolutely delighted” with her increased majority and hoped her victory would draw a line under the expenses issues which had dogged her last year.

She said: “There are some prominent people in Epping Forest who said in the current political atmosphere I would have a massively reduced majority and would just hold on. They were wrong.

“I've been upset for the last year about the lies that have been told about me and I'm very pleased that the majority of people in Epping Forest have the sense not to rely on that misinformation.

“I'm absolutely delighted that the people of Epping Forest have put their confidence in me to continue to represent them as their MP.”

Lib Dem Ann Haigh, who saw her party move from third place to second, said: “I'm pleased the Liberal Democrats are recognised as the second party and we can build on that. I'd like to thank all the people who voted for me and for the increase that came with that. I think that is recognition that our policies were good and fair.”

4.05am

Conservative Party chairman Eric Pickles has been re-elected in Brentwood and Ongar with a swing of 3.1 per cent from the Liberal Democrats. Turnout was high at 71.9 per cent with Mr Pickles securing 28,792 votes to 11,872 for the Liberal Democrats in second place.

3.50am

Eleanor Laing is re-elected with an increased majority.

Full results:

Eleanor Laing Conservative: 25,148

Ann Haigh Liberal Democrat: 10,017

Katie Curtis Labour: 6,641

Pat Richardson BNP: 1,982

Andrew Smith UKIP: 1,852

Simon Pepper Green: 659

Kim Sawyer English Democrats: 285

3.35am

Labour’s Bill Rammell has been defeated by the Conservatives in Harlow, Roydon and Nazeing on a swing of 5.9 per cent. Robert Halfon is the seat’s new MP with a majority of 4,925.

3.02am

The result hasn't quite been announced yet, but Eleanor Laing's team are congratulating each other, and I gather she was won with an increased majority. Confirmation soon.

2.55am

Turnout is officially 66.95 per cent, up 5.3 per cent on last year.

Not long now.

2.40pm

In a highly unscientific stab at predicting the result here I've have been trying to count all the sorted ballot papers in the main room. My verdict: not a clue.

HOWEVER: Result is now fairly firmly predicted for 3am

2.33pm

Stephen Metcalfe, a well known figure in Epping Forest for his time on the district council's cabinet, has won the newly created seat of Basildon South. An important result for the Tories.

Mr Metcalfe runs Metloc Printers, in Loughton.

2.30pm

Here's Ann Haigh:

“I've been pleased when out and about that people have taken to our views of fairness, and I'm also pleased at the high turnout. At the beginning people were thinking there would be apathy but the TV debates seem to have changed that which is good if you believe in democracy.

“I think there's everything to play for. It's too early to say at the moment. I've been looking at the count and there seems to be a higher proportion of our votes than last time. I think it will be between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives.” 2pm

Current predictions here are for a result before 3am.

In the interests of scrupulous fairness I intend to find Lib Dem candidate Ann Haigh for a quick chat.

1.45am

Parliamentary turnout figure will be a little while yet. However, turnout for the district council wards has been released.

By my very swiftly made calculation average turnout is in the mid to high 60s. Top scorer is Theydon Bois with a 74 per cent turnout. Impressive stuff. Not as good as Tower Hamlets, however, where I gather there is a 123 per cent turnout.

1.35am

In a shock move Gordon Brown has been re-elected with a massive majority. Based on this news I confidently predict if he is re-elected on a similar scale nationally Labour will have a 200 seat majority.

Back on a local level, I believe the verification process is over here, so I should be able to bring you a turnout figure soon.

1.27am

The television area is proving particularly popular. Perhaps because people have realised watching people endlessly counting ballot papers is not actually that interesting.

1.20am

Former local girl Justine Greening has increased her majority in her seat of Putney, south London.

Before her parliamentary career Ms Greening was a councillor in Epping

1.15am

The Conservatives have just taken a big seat from Labour in Kingswood with a swing of 9.4 per cent.

A good time to speak to Epping Forest's incumbent Conservative Eleanor Laing who said she was delighted with the result.

“This is a brilliant result I hope it translates nationally in the election,” she said. “I've always said I thought we'd have a majority of between 20 and 30.”

Mrs Laing remained cautious of her own hopes. “Locally we've had a very efficient operation,” she said. “I've no idea what will happen. There's so many candidates which affects the vote.”

1.05am

First Conservative gain of the night from Kingswood in Gloucestershire, taken with a 9.4 per cent swing – enough to give David Cameron an overall majority. Rumours also emerging that the Tories have taken the bellweather seat of Basildon from Labour.

1am

Eleanor Laing is having a quick conflab with Labour rival Katie Curtis. Could this be the start of a Conservative/Labour pact? I'll ask her soon.

Here's former council leader John Knapman's take on tonight: “It'd be nice if we could invent an electoral counting system which made watching paint dry exciting.”

John predicts a win for Eleanor Laing but with a smaller majority -a popular verdict here- and nationally a small Conservative majority.

12.30am

Labour candidate Katie Curtis has admitted she faces an uphill task to overthrow Eleanor Laing's 14,000+ majority.

She said: “Hopefully our vote will hold up and we'll come out as close to the 20 per cent we had in 2005.

“I'm predicting a swing away from the Conservatives but this is a very safe seat. Hopefully this election will show that even MPs in safe seats have to be accountable.”

Katie did point out an interesting fact. As it stands with three results announced there is a 100 per cent Labour set of MPs and 100 per cent women. She was understandably happy with this idea, although she predicted a hung parliament nationally.

“After two years spending a lot of money the Conservatives will still not have an overall majority,” she said. “That's a failure on their part. It's not a success on our part but after 13 years of government you expect this.”

12am

Happy Friday!

Why not leave a comment below? Preferably something political, and not about England's win in the 20/20 cricket.

11.55

No sign of Eleanor Laing yet. She does live just across the road though so it's an easy trip to make.

I have seen the Labour, Lib Dem and Green candidates milling around.

Stop press Eleanor Laing has arrived!

11.45

A number of the district council's youth councillors are here to show their support for democracy.

Just been informed we are 30 per cent of the way through the verification process. This isn't the actual count, which starts afterwards. It's checking ballot papers have been placed in the right boxes, and that the returning officers have recorded the correct number of votes.

11.35

Conservative councillor Antony Watts:

“I think there will be a Conservative majority of 20. The big story will be what charity Brown will go off and work for. He's told us he won't be going into business.

“Here it will be a Conservative hold. I'll stick my neck out and say with a reduced majority.”

11.30

Two elections already declared tonight. Both in Sunderland. Would they were this quick here.

Eric Pickles is in the BBC studio. Presumably that means he isn't at our neighbouring count in Brentwood and Ongar. Maybe he'll get in a taxi at the last minute. Let's hope he doesn't charge it to expenses!

11.20

Here's Lib Dem councillor Peter Spencer take on the electoral situation:

“I'm hopeful there will be a hung parliament, or a balanced parliament as we like to call it. Other countries seem to manage it without their policies collapsing.

“I'm hopeful there'll be a change in the voting system. If we enter a coalition with Labour proportional representation will be our condition, not the alternative vote system. That just favours Labour.”

11.10

Just been informed all the ballot boxes are now in and the count is officially in full swing.

11.05

Just spoken with veteran political figure Stephen Murray who now stands as an independent councillor. He was actually Eleanor Laing's first Labour political opponent in the 1997 election and pushed her fairly close. Will current candidate Katie Curtis do even better?

Here's his take on tonight's election:

“I think Eleanor Laing will win but with a reduced majority. A lot of angry Conservatives will vote for her because she's Conservative and they want a Conservative Government but they're absolutely cross with her.

“I've come across lifelong Conservatives who've said they will spoil they're ballot.”

10.55

Quite a few police in tonight just in case it all kicks off I guess. Tried to get an exclusive interview with Inspector Tom Simons, but tragically he stuck to the police code of strict neutrality.

If you're reading this why not leave some comments below?

10.50

Verification of some of the votes has now started. We're expected to be in full swing by 11pm.

Currently the result here is predicted to come in at 3am. Regretting not bringing a thermos of red bull. Tragically Theydon Bois is lacking in off-licences. Even Tesco has closed...

10.45

It's Green Party spokesman Steven Neville!

“Eleanor Laing will win with a reduced majority. There will be a massive turnout.”

How will your boy do?

“We haven't got a clue”.

10.35

Off for a stroll around. Who will be my first interview?

10.30

No sign of any ballot boxes arriving yet.

The press area here is surprisingly busy with reporters from the BBC and the Press Association joining myself and my old boss David Jackman.

10.25

Quite a few people have arrived here already although I'm yet to see an actual candidate.

Among the early arrivals are county councillor and former council leader John Knapman, and former chairman Brian Sandler, presumably here to cheer on incumbant Eleanor Laing.

For the Lib Dems councillors Janet Whitehouse and Peter Spencer are here, while former Labour group leader Joan Davis has turned up with a sizeable contingent.

Stop press: I've just seen Green party candidate Simon Pepper.

Hello and welcome to this evening's live blog of the general election in the Epping Forest constituency.

Polling has officially closed and now the waiting game begins.

The official venue for the count in Epping Forest is Theydon Bois Village Hall, which is very pleasant but lacks a coffee machine.