Greater Manchester mayoral election LIVE results and updates as count begins following historic vote

Greater Manchester will get a new mayor on Friday following the historic vote to elect Andy Burnham’s successor.

Polling stations closed at 10pm on Thursday, with the count taking place from 9am on Friday. Hundreds of thousands of votes will be counted at Co-op Live, with the result not expected until at least early afternoon.

And it could be even later if no candidate receives more than 50 per cent of the vote – meaning the second round votes will need to be counted.

The election was held using the supplementary vote system, which meant that people were able to vote for two candidates, a first and second preference.

The by-election, the biggest ever held in the UK, is taking place after Mr Burnham had to stand down from the post after being elected MP for Makerfield.

Seven candidates were standing in the election: Sian Niamh Astley for Reform UK, Geraldine Coggins for Green Party, Bev Craig for Labour, Phil Eckersley for the Conservative Party, Marcus Jonathan Farmer – independent, Richard Kilpatrick for Liberal Democrats, and Marlon West for Restore Britain.

Whoever is voted in will have a direct say in setting budgets and priorities across the region, meaning the election will have a major impact on the future of housing, transport and policing for people across Greater Manchester over the coming years.

Follow the latest updates in our live blog below as the results are counted.