Votes are being counted at a rapid pace at the ExCeL centre in east London as candidates wait to learn if they have won a seat in the Greater London Assembly.

Anxious politicians have been milling around with their campaign teams, staring at the big screens that have been erected to display battles in five constituencies.

Starting at 9.30am, the count is now well under way as a third to a half of the votes have been processed for most constituencies.

Unexpected early celebrations entered the ExCeL as the Labour campaign team arrived after John Pierce’s victory in the Tower Hamlets by-election.

Bucking a national trend, voter turnout was impressive in the East End as Labour took a majority of just under 300 in the Weavers seat.

Havering & Redbridge is looking like the closest run contest at this stage with Conservative Roger Evans just edging Labour’s Mandy Richards.

Lambeth & Southwark’s Valerie Shawcross is way out in front for Labour while Len Duvall is doing in the same in Greenwich & Lewisham and John Biggs follows suit in City & East.

The Conservatives are progressing well in Bexley & Bromley with James Cleverly striding ahead of Labour candidate Josie Channer.

The constituency has also progressed the furthest in the count with 51 per cent of votes verified so far.