Most of the 13 candidates contesting the Richmond and Northallerton constituency have arrived at Hambleton Civic Centre as the counting of votes gets underway.

Count Binface, who is standing for the Count Binface Party, received a raucous cheer as he arrived shortly before 1am.

However, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is not expected to arrive with his wife Akshata Murty at the venue from his home in nearby Kirby Sigston until 3.30am.

A bank of television crews and dozens of journalists are awaiting Rishi Sunak’s entrance as senior council officers closely monitor candidates overlooking the counters.

Count officials said all the voting boxes from across the vast rural constituency, which has remote polling stations in Muker in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale, had been delivered to the count.

The result is expected to be announced by North Yorkshire Council’s most senior legal officer, Barry Khan, at around 4AM.