People in Newcastle, Gateshead, South Tyneside, North Tyneside, Sunderland, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Craven and Harrogate heading to the polls. Councillors in some wards in each council are up for election. Follow and find all the results here throughout the night.
See the full results from Sunderland Council here
"I would personally like to thank the local community for their amazing donations of food, toiletries and clothing. "
Owners John and Irene Hays say there is ''light at the end of the tunnel'', after the pandemic forced them to close 650 UK stores.
There has been resistance to calls to dismantle memorials to the explorer.