COUNTING has started at the Newton Abbot Leisure Centre. All but one of the 53 polling stations have returned their boxes. Still to come is the box from Dawlish Warren.

Turn-out figures will not be known until about midnight. A Teignbridge Council spokesman said that 85% of postal votes had been returned.

Conservative candidate Anne-Marie Morris says she has been on the go since 4.30am.

'You don't win by touring the polling stations. I've been telling, driving people to polling stations, telephoning, anything and everything.

Mrs Morris said she had not seen the BBC exit polls which puts the Conservatives ahead with 307 seats but short of an overall majority. She said that on those figures she would be struggling to win.

'I have not seen the exit polls I've been so engaged in getting the vote out. I feel it has been a good campaign, we are all looking forward to a result so we can move forward.

'It would be good if the Conservatives have more than 307 seats as it leaves them short of an absolute majority. They are only a finger in the air. On these figures this seat would be on the cusp.'