“EMOTIONALLY stressed” politicians bit their fingernails as the countdown began to decide future shape of council.

Many had been up and pounding the streets since early this morning in a last bid attempt to rustle up support on the doorstep.

And in only a few hours their future will be known.

Just after 10.10pm the first ballot boxes in arrived in the counting hall, at the Oasis Leisure Centre.

Among them were boxes from four polling stations in Western ward, a fairly safe Labour seat. Their content decides the future of Des Moffatt, a veteran Labour councillor who has held the seat largely uninterrupted since 1983.

The Ulsterman unrattled – but exhausted – said: “I’m very tired. This doesn’t come easy you do have to work hard. In Ireland you just go out and vote depending on religion!”

“I’m very hopeful about Covingham and Nythe. I felt good there on the doorsteps. We had people telling us they were voting Labour for first time in their life.

“But it could be so deceiving. The only thing that really matters is it’s real live democracy and I’m so pleased to be involved.”

Meantime, 21-year-old John Haines, the Tory challenger, stood nearby nervously awaiting the outcome.

“It’s my first campaign, I’m nervous Western is a ward we’ve never taken but have come very close,” he said.

Shortly after the Western boxes arrived, other black boxes from across town started arriving piled up in stacks at the bottom of hall.

And soon the 120 counters were licking their fingers and the air was thick with rustle of tens of thousands of ballot papers.

Stephen Taylor, returning officer announcing the results, looked across the rows of tables surrounded by councillors and their challengers and said: “They’ve been out since 7am, they are tired, they’ve worked jolly hard for today and are therefore emotionally quite stressed.”

The results are due to be announced by 2.30am, but in the past they’ve run over.

Asked when they would be finished Sally Sprason, election manager, said: “Hopefully not as long as last year, it was all night.”

Keep checking the Adver website throughout the night for the results as they come in and see Saturday’s paper for all the reaction.