Voting for the local elections in Reading took place yesterday (Thursday, May 6) but results will come in later than usual this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Reading Borough Council (RBC) election count usually takes place on Thursday night, following the closure of polling stations at 10pm.

But this year it will take place on the Friday (May 7) to allow for social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic.

READ MORE: Every Reading Borough Council candidate

The count will take place at Rivermead Leisure Centre as usual, but this time it will spaced out across two halls.

Verification of votes is expected to start at around 9.30am, with counting starting around 11am or 12pm and an estimated finish time of between 3pm and 5pm.

The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) will be tweeting out the latest from the count on the day as well as publishing stories once full results are announced (Tevye Markson will be attending the count).

RBC’s communications team will also have people in both halls, tweeting out results and linking to a results page on the council website.

Some councils are counting over a few days to enable social distancing but, as Rivermead is not available on Saturday, the Reading count is being held on one afternoon across two halls, with eight wards in each hall. READ MORE: Eight polling stations change for Reading 2021 elections

The number of people attending the count in each hall will be limited to enable safe social distancing.

Attendees will wear masks and have been asked to take a Lateral Flow Test within 48 hours of the start of the count.

Restrictions on movement mean media will be confined to two designated media areas.