Scottish council election: Counting due to take place

The results of the local government elections are expected to be known later, as votes are counted in Scotland's 32 councils.

Voters went to the polls on Thursday to elect 1,223 councillors.

Staff at counting centres across the country are due to begin processing the ballot papers from 08:00.

Early signs suggest turnout could be one of the lowest on record, with Moray Council reporting an average turnout of just under 38%.

The number of councillors elected from each party will indicate the political make-up of the country's local authorities.

However, with minority results expected in many councils because of the proportional representation system, it could be several days or weeks before ruling administrations are formed.

The SNP is hoping to build on the 363 seats it won in 2007, while Labour aims to make gains on its 348 seats.

Both will be closely watching results for Glasgow City Council which is a key battleground for the two parties.

Numbered candidates

The Liberal Democrats, who suffered heavy losses in the Holyrood elections last year, secured 166 seats in 2007, while the Tories won 143.

In addition to those from the four main political parties, nearly 200 independent councillors were elected in 2007, alongside 10 candidates from smaller parties.

Turnout for the ballot may have suffered because it is the first time since 1995 that local elections have not been held at the same time as the Holyrood poll.

The elections were separated to help avoid a repeat of the 2007 fiasco, in which about 100,000 ballots were spoiled and problems with the electronic counting delayed results.

The proportional representation system of single transferable vote (STV) was used in Thursday's ballot, meaning voters numbered candidates in order of preference.

BBC Scotland news will deliver all the results live online and in radio broadcasts.

Across Scotland a total of 2,490 people stood for election.

People in Dunoon will not vote until next Thursday because the death of a candidate led to the election there being postponed.