OPPOSITION parties were confident yesterday's elections would change the political landscape of Darlington.

The ruling Labour group on Darlington Borough Council has come under pressure following the proposed merger of Hurworth and Eastbourne schools, the pedestrianisation of the town centre and a plan to build a Tesco hypermarket in the town centre.

Last night, chief executive and returning officer Ada Burns said: "Our polling stations have been doing well and we hope everyone eligible to vote had their say."

Councillor Heather Scott, the Conservative group leader, said: "We're very hopeful - if our canvassing transfers itself to people going out to vote. It's an interesting election, I think people are a lot more anxious to talk about things and that's good for local politics."

The Liberal Democrats were also hoping to make gains.

Secretary Mike Barker said: "The interesting wards for us are Harrowgate Hill, where there's a really good fight with Labour, and Hurworth, where we think we could get both seats.

"I think we could quite easily double our three seats and possibly get eight or even ten."

Labour cabinet member Councillor Nick Wallis said in some wards the number of postal votes being returned was about 80 per cent. He said: "It's too early to say what will happen."

The town's residents will be able to see how the borough council elections are progressing live on a number of different websites.

A live election count is being posted on the borough council's website from 8.30am this morning.

A link to the count on the homepage, www.darlington.gov.uk, will show the results as they come in.

A council spokeswoman said: "This is the first time that Darlington residents have been able to watch the results come in on their computers. As soon as the results are announced for each ward, people will be able to see them online."

Cabinet member Coun Nick Wallis will also be keeping people updated live from the count on his personal blog at http//darlington councillor.blogspot.com. He said: "I think I'll be the only person in the region if not the country doing this. I'll be giving my predictions and also be saying what's going on."

The Northern Echo will also be providing live updates from all the election counts across the region on www.thenorthernecho.co.uk.

One of the first counts to be completed late last night was at Easington - with Labour keeping control.

In fact, 25 out of the 51 seats were filled without the need for a ballot as they were uncontested.

Although the Passfield ward was being recounted, preliminary results from the other nine wards where there were elections last night showed that 21 Labour councillors had been elected. There were also two Liberal Democrats and one independent councillor. Voter turnout was 30.5 per cent, up on last year.

In Middlesbrough, voters appeared to have given the local elections the cold shoulder with turnout reported to have been low.

Figures of about 20 per cent were being talked of as counting began following the closure of the polls at 10pm.

Despite that, candidates were talking up their chances.

John McPartland (Lab, Middlehaven) said he was feeling quietly confident. He said: "We realise that it looks like it could be a low turnout, which is very disappointing, but we do not believe it will be reflected in the outcome."

Joe Michna (Lib Dem), who stood in the Park ward and was also a candidate in the mayoral election, said it had been extremely difficult to campaign on both fronts. However, he said: "I am confident that we can improve on our results from the last election."

Former Labour councillor, Brian Hubbard, who is standing as an Independent said he had worked hard on local issues.

He said: "I do not feel as if the people really care that much about political parties, they just want the best for their area."

Gillian Reeve (Con, Park) said the Conservatives worked hard to improve the party's seat count.

In Redcar and Cleveland, the borough council's Labour group said it was "quietly confident" of regaining control. In the 2003 elections, a coalition group wrested control from Labour and, since then, the council has been ruled by Liberal Democrats, Conservatives and Independents.

It takes 30 councillors to form a majority on the council and, after the last election, Labour had 23 seats, Liberal Democrats 15, Conservatives 13 and the East Cleveland, Eston and Marske Independents eight. Before yesterday's election, Labour held 22 seats, following the resignation of Councillor David Tomlin who represented the Normanby ward. All parties were last night speaking confidently of making gains.

In Stockton, a steady stream of voters turned out, while a spokesman for Hartlepool Borough Council hoped the good weather would encourage voters.

Council officers in Ryedale, North Yorkshire, reported a steady stream of voters at the polling booths. Residents were left with a hung council after the last local elections in 2003.

In Hambleton, council officials reported voting had been initially quiet. Figures revealed that at least 76 per cent of those registered for postal voting had done so.

In Harrogate district, there were elections for a third of the seats.