The Super Thursday Vote 2021: Local Election results in Essex
The Conservatives have continued to hold onto the majority at Essex County Council, with the party R4U gaining two seats, and the Conservatives losing one seat.
In Basildon, the Conservatives have gained control over the previous hung council, gaining four seats, with Labour losing one seat and Independent's losing one.
Earlier on Friday, the Tories dramatically snatched Harlow Council away from Labour control after nine years. The Tories made seven gains at the expense of Labour.
Labour had a majority of six going into the election on a council where they have held power in 38 of the past 48 years.
The Conservatives now have a majority of eight. The Conservatives last ran Harlow council between 2008 and 2012.
Essex Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner
Watch a report from ITV Anglia's Hannah Pettifer
Roger Hirst was re-elected as Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner with a large majority. He picked up 245,346 votes, his election confirmed after the first round of voting.
It means Mr Hirst will serve his second term as PFCC, having been elected initially in 2016. The Conservatives have held the post since its creation in 2012.
The support for Mr Hirst more than doubled from 2016, when he got 110,858 votes.
Mr Hirst said: "This is a sobering level of endorsement from the people of Essex. I am grateful that they are clearly appreciating what we have been doing over the past five years.
"We have achieved 500 extra police officers with a commitment of further investment and with more officers to come.
"We are improving the culture of the fire and rescue service with a focus on prevention and protection. It is really exciting that this programme has been endorsed by the public of Essex."
Southend and Colchester remain hung councils with no one party in overall control. The Conservatives made three gains in Southend and are still the largest party.
The Green Party gained a seat in Colchester doubling their presence on the Borough Council.
Polling stations were open on Thursday with social distancing measures including the wearing of a face covering and voters asked to use their own pen or pencil. Coronavirus safety measures are also affecting the counting of the votes, which usually takes place immediately after polling stations have closed and into the early hours of the following day. This year the counts will take place over several days across the Anglia region and all the results won’t be known until the following Monday.
Political composition of other local councils in Essex with one third of the councillors up for election in May 2021
More details of local elections elsewhere in the Anglia region
Bedfordshire | Cambridgeshire | Essex | Hertfordshire | Milton Keynes | Norfolk | Northamptonshire | Suffolk
What you need to know about the county council elections in the Anglia region in May 2021
Police & Crime Commissioner elections in the Anglia region in May 2021
Choosing an elected mayor for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
More about the 2021 Local Elections in the ITV Anglia region