"A bad night for Labour...it's not going the way Labour would like it...Labour's majority is very much down...it's not looking very good for Labour...

As the early results began to come in and the initial punditry poured out of a large screen in either corner of the Trimdon Labour Club there was a very subdued atmosphere.

Chris Mullin's victory 30 miles up the road in Sunderland South was greeted with muted applause - indeed, the 149 votes for the razzle dazzled-looking loony got a more enthusiastic reception than Mr Mullin's 17,982.

Back in 1997, at about the same time of night, this place had been jumping.

The bands playing cover versions of Presley and Drifters songs had been drowned off after just a few numbers as the Sedgefield faithful whooped and sang Ere We Go.

The landslide unfolded before their eyes and swept their man, Tony Blair, from Trimdon to Downing Street.

Last night, cheeks were puffed out and people settled in for a long tense night.

A few thought about celebrating that their man appeared on course for an unprecedented third term as Prime Minister.

Others sought sanctuary in seeing Jeremy Paxman humble the Conservative columnist Boris Johnson on the big screen.

But many realised the majority of 66 - as the exit poll suggested - and the Sunderland result confirmed, would leave their man vulnerable.

"It doesn't look all it might be," said a man near the bar, as he ordered another pint.

It was going to be a long, long night for the faithful.

But strange things were happening to the Labour vote.

Just down the road at Houghton and Washington East, Fraser Kemp's vote, it was pointed out, was only a couple of thousand down.

This third result of the night was greeted by warm applause.

"See, the vote is going all over the place," said one man.

Another said: "I'm apolitical, of course, but this is going to be a very, very interesting night.