A REMARKABLE election night has ended with the guarantee of a hung Parliament, with Theresa May's decision to call a snap poll having backfired spectacularly.

If you're waking up this morning wondering how the night unfolded, here are the key developments:


NATIONAL STORY

* The Conservatives will end the election as the largest party - but will NOT boast an overall majority

* With seven constituencies still to declare, the Conservatives are on 313 seats, with Labour on 260, the SNP on 35 and the Liberal Democrats on 12.

* The Conservatives are set to fall around ten parties short of an overall majority, but may be able to cobble together a workable coalition with the Northern Irish party, the DUP.

* Theresa May has so far refused to step down, although after her re-election in Maidenhead, which came with a reduced majority, she indicated the Tories would seek to remain in power to ensure "stability".

* Former home secretary Amber Rudd was almost a high-profile Conservative casualty, eventually holding on to her Hastings seat with a majority of just 346 seats after a recount.

* It has been an unexpectedly good night for Labour, and especially for their leader, Jeremy Corbyn. After his election in Islington North, the Labour leader called on Mrs May to resign and told crowds: "Politics has changed".

* Labour won seats from the Tories right across the country, even claiming Canterbury, which had been in Conservative hands since the First World War.

* Labour's success has been attributed to a high turnout figure, with voters aged between 18-24 seemingly having been crucial.

* It has been a mixed night for the Liberal Democrats, with former leader Nick Clegg losing his seat in Sheffield Hallam, but Vince Cable returning to the House of Commons after winning in Twickenham.

* The SNP have lost their iron grip on Scottish politics, losing 20 seats to a combination of the Tories, Labour and Liberal Democrats. SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson and former party leader Alex Salmond were the two biggest casualties.


NORTH-EAST AND NORTH YORKSHIRE

* Conservative James Wharton, formerly the champion of the Northern Powerhouse, suffers a shock defeat in Stockton South. The seat goes to Labour's Dr Paul Williams.

* There is better news for the Tories later in the night as they take Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland from Labour. Tory Simon Clarke took the seat from Labour's Tracy Harvey.

* Labour's Jenny Chapman holds on to her Darlington seat, fighting off a Tory attack from Peter Cuthbertson. Ms Chapman wins with a 3,280 majority.

* The first result of the night was declared in Newcastle rather than Sunderland, with Labour's Chi Onwurah holding on to her seat in Newcastle Central.

* Labour's Helen Goodman suffers a scare in Bishop Auckland, but retains her seat with a reduced majority of just 502.

* Labour's Anna Turley retained her seat in Redcar, and polled more than 50 per cent of the votes.