Entrance to the Croydon Count. Image: Georgina Palzeaird

165 votes were the difference between Gavin Barwell being the MP for Croydon Central and looking for a job today.

This has been the London constituency election with the knife-edge of victory for the Conservatives in a marginal battle won with the narrowest of margins.

Gavin continues as the Tory MP with 22,753 votes.

But Labour’s Sarah Jones was just behind with 22,588.

They both had 43% share of the poll.

It means that James Fearnley’s LibDem 1,152 votes, Esther Sutton’s Green Party 1,454 votes and UKIP’s Peter Staveley 4,810 votes could have tipped the balance either way.

Croydon Central Conservative candidate Gavin Barwell with Boris Johnson. Image: Gavin Barwell

6.40am

Conservative candidate Gavin Barwell has been re-elected as the MP for Croydon Central.

Gavin Barwell has been re-elected as MP for Croydon Central. Image: Georgina Palzeaird

Breakdown of results:

• April Ashley (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition) – 127
• Gavin Barwell (Conservative) – 22,753
• Martin Camden (The UK Progressive Democracy Party) – 57
• James Fearnley (Liberal Democrats) – 1,152
• Sarah Jones (Labour) – 22, 588
• Peter Staveley (UKIP) – 4,810
• Esther Sutton (Green) – 1,454

6.25am

The Mayor of Croydon is announcing the results for Croydon Central.

5.55am

Conservative candidate Chris Philp has been elected has the MP for Croydon South.

Chris Philp representing Conservatives for Croydon South. Image: Roza Dawood

5.40am

The Mayor of Croydon is announcing the results for Croydon South.

Announcing Croydon South results. Image: Roza Dawood

5.20am

Steven Reed representing the Labour Party has been elected as the MP for Croydon North.

Steven Reed. Image: Roza Dawood

5:10am 

Mayor of Croydon is announcing the results for Croydon North.

Announcing the results for Croydon North. Image: Roza Dawood

4.45am

Crowds gather at the stage again. Croydon North results to be announced. We think.

4.15am

False alarm. Confused reporters climb the stairs back to the press area.

4.10am

The press have deserted their stations…

Deserted news stations. Image: Georgina Palzeaird

But no one is entirely sure what’s going on.

The media wait. Image: Georgina Palzeaird

4am

Crowds gather around the stage with cameras and microphones at the ready. There have been a lot of rumours flying around the press area tonight, hopefully all will be revealed very soon.

Crowd gathers around the stage. Image: Georgina Palzeaird

3.45am

Roza Dawood spoke to Esther Sutton, the Green Party candidate for Croydon Central:

2.35am

There is a lot of interest circulating around the close call between Conservative and Labour for Croydon Centre:

Live in #croydonsouth but much more interested in what’s going to happen in #croydoncentral between @BackBarwell & @LabourSJ

— Hannah M Williamson (@HMCW2011) May 7, 2015

Marginal constituencies will hold the key to 10 Downing street and #CroydonCentral is one of them #GE2015

— Tweet by Seat! with (@UndercoverMutha) May 7, 2015

2.30am

Rumours have stopped as quickly as they started. There is not going to be a recount.

2.25am

Rumours are being passed around about the possibility of a recount for Croydon Central. As predicted it is very close between Labour candidate Sarah Jones and Conservative candidate Gavin Barwell.

1.48am

Croydon Central turnout figures announced – 67.86% (65.05% in 2010)

1.35am

Croydon North turnout figures announced – 62.5% (60.64% in 2010)

1.15am

The verification process was due to be completed by 1am however no announcement has been made yet.

12:50am

The Mayor of Croydon, and Returning Officer, Councillor Manju Shahul-Hameed has just arrived. At the close of the verification when all ballot papers have been accounted for, she will announce the result of the verification.

12.35am

Empty ballot boxes are carried through the building indicating the verification process is coming to an end.

Empty ballot boxes being carried out. Image : Roza Dawood

12.30am

Candidates are beginning to filter in, wearing their respective rosettes. The atmosphere is building as results from other constituencies are being declared on television screens around the halls.

11.30pm

Staff are counting the total number of ballot papers to be included in each count. This verification process is expected to be completed around 1am.

Counting the Croydon Central ballot papers. Image: Roza Dawood

Counting the Croydon North ballot papers. Image: Roza Dawood

11pm

Staff are coming through, delivering the ballot boxes containing the postal votes and votes from the polling stations.

Ballot boxes being collected and delivered by staff. Image: Roza Dawood

Location: Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon

Stage set up for the official declarations of the results in the foyer of Fairfield Halls. Image: Georgina Palzeaird

The count is taking place at Fairfield Halls. Image: Georgina Palzeaird

The count is taking place here at Fairfield Halls. Image: Roza Dawood

Factsheet 

Size of operation

• 3 constituencies (Croydon Central, Croydon North, Croydon South)
• 22 candidates
• 246,122 registered voters (an increase from 2010)
• 39,793 postal votes registered (an increase from 2010)
• 147 polling stations
• 192 members of staff will be used to count votes

Candidates

• Conservative – 3
• Labour – 3
• Greens – 3
• Lib Dems – 3
• UKIP – 3
• Trade Unionist & Socialist Coalition – 2 (Central, North)
• Communist – 1 (North)
• Class War – 1 (South)
• The UK Progressive Democracy Party – 1 (Central)
• Putting Croydon First! – 1 (South)
• Independent – 1 (North)

Hello. We’re Georgina Palzeaird and Roza Dawood and we’re covering the election count for the fiercely contested marginal constituency of Croydon Central.

We’ll also be keeping an eye on and reporting the results for the other Croydon seats.