Local election results times: hour-by-hour guide to when key battles will be announced

Polling stations across England will open at 7am on Thursday with the Tories under Rishi Sunak facing a major electoral test.

Analysts have suggested the Tories stand to lose more than 1,000 council seats as the party continues to trail Keir Starmer's Labor in national polls.

Mr. Starmer also hopes to win hundreds of seats, translating the party's lead in the polls into victories at the polls.

The 230 tips disputed on Thursday were last up for grabs in the final days of Theresa May's premiership in 2019, when the Tories suffered significant losses.

Jeremy Corbyn was still the Labor leader, Brexit was not 'done' and a Covid pandemic was unimaginable.

Boris Johnson and Liz Truss hadn't yet had a chance to inflict chaos on the nation.

It could also be the last trip to the polls for voters before the next general election - and the results will be watched closely.

Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer face tough ballot box test in England local elections

Despite a low point, the Tories still have the most to lose.

Of the 8,141 council seats up for grabs, the party is defending 3,290 on May 4, compared with 2,062 for Labor and 1,205 for the Liberal Democrats.

Writing last month, election experts said a 6% swing to Labor could see Mr Starmer's party 'register around 700 gains'.

There are no elections in Scotland and Wales - but there are municipal elections in Northern Ireland on May 18. There are also four local elections in England.

The local elections will also be the first time in England where voters will be required to show photo ID at polling stations under controversial new rules.

Here is our hour-by-hour guide to local elections, with approximate times provided by the Press Association.