Andy wins West Midlands Mayoral Election for Conservatives!

In a nail biting finish here at the Barclaycard Arena in Birmingham Andy Street, the former boss of John Lewis, has been declared the Metro Mayor of the West Midlands.

He beat off a strong challenge from the Labour MEP and former MP for Birmingham Erdington Siôn Simon.

It comes on day when the map of the midlands has turned blue. The Conservatives have been victorious in County Council elections - it will now be a tory mayor who takes on the challenge of leading a 4 million strong population into a post brexit 21st century.

Andy Street came out on our ITV News Central battle bus during the campaign to meet voters. He talked of his renewal plan for the West Midlands - as former boss of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise partnership he says he is well placed to determine a strong and positive future for commerce and industry.

He says his priority will be winning the finance from national government so that people here can benefit. He wants complete control over local train services and joined up thinking on housing development. He has pledged to protect the greenbelt.

He's crossed a big hurdle in securing victory today. Now the biggest job in his long career has begun.