Just two per cent separates the leading two candidates in the battle to represent Havering and Redbridge on the London Assembly, as the final few votes are counted.

Conservative Party incumbent Roger Evans has seen his early advantage whittled away as more and more votes have been totted up at ExCel following yesterday’s vote.

He has 37 per cent of the vote, while Labour’s Mandy Richards has 35 per cent.

Ninety-two per cent of the ballot papers have been counted.

The number of votes each candidate received, as well as the turnout, will be read out by the returning officer when the winner is announced.

Behind the lead two is Lawrence Webb, of the UK Independence Party/Fresh Choice for London who has seven per cent of the vote.

Malvin Brown of the Residents’ Association of London is fourth, with six per cent.

Liberal Democrat candidate and former Redbridge councillor Farrukh Islam has five per cent, while the British National Party’s Robert Taylor and Haroon Saad of the Green Party both have four per cent of the vote.

In the mayoral election, Conservative Boris Johnson has 52 per cent of the votes from Havering and Redbridge, with Labour’s Ken Livingstone on 34 per cent.

• Keep checking the Ilford Recorder website and www.london24.com for latest updates.