How the Clacton by-election count will take place

The biggest British election campaign, in terms of the number of individuals standing for a single parliamentary seat, is nearly over.

After polling booths close at 22:00 BST on Thursday, the counting of votes begins.

But with 34 candidates and a ballot paper that is nearly a metre long, it is expected to lengthen the time that takes compared to most parliamentary election counts.

People may still be waiting for a result while tucking into their breakfasts, rather than waking up to find out who has won.

Larger table areas are being set up at the count venue of Clacton Leisure Centre so the long ballot papers can be verified, sorted into piles and then counted.

Voting takes place at polling booths across the constituency , external from 07:00 until 22:00.

The first ballot boxes are expected to arrive 10 minutes after the polls close. With the constituency consisting of rural villages and seaside towns, the last ones should arrive by 23:30.

the most Independent candidates (20) to stand in a single election