Incumbent Tory mayor Andy Street is fighting to retain the West Midlands mayoralty, and we had been expecting a result around about now.
But there is a delay, and we understand that is due to bundle recounts under way.
When votes are counted, they are divided into bundles for each candidate, with a pre-determined number of ballots per bundle, to be totalled more easily.
A bundle recount means that they can be inspected by the candidates or their agents to reassure them – and it is one step short of a full-blown recount.
Five of the seven boroughs have been asked to provide their bundles for recounts, our team at the count reports.
Sam Coates says Conservative sources are worrying they are 2,000-3,000 votes behind the Labour candidate, Richard Parker.
A loss for Mr Street would be “an upset” and a result we “wouldn’t have been expecting”, he adds.
A council official at the count has said the result will come “in the next hour, if we’re lucky”.
How the race for Mayor of London is unfolding so far
Twelve of the 14 constituencies in the capital have declared so far in the London mayoral race.
Eight have been declared for London mayor Sadiq Khan.
The results so far give Mr Khan 43.5% of the vote. His nearest rival, Conservative Susan Hall, is currently trailing with 32.8% of the vote.
Based on the early results, media projections show a historic third term for Mr Khan.
There were fears within the Labour Party that the vote would be much closer amid worries about low turnout.
But those briefings from both sides in the contest appear to have been erroneous.
The 12 constituencies to report so far are Greenwich and Lewisham, North East, West Central, Merton and Wandsworth, South West, Enfield and Haringey, Bexley and Bromley, Barnet and Camden, City and East, Ealing and Hillingdon, Brent and Harrow and Croydon and Sutton.
Bexley and Bromley, Brent and Harrow, Ealing and Hillingdon, and Croydon and Sutton are the four constituencies to declare a win for Ms Hall.
The London mayoral candidates have been told to arrive at City Hall at 4.30pm. A declaration could come soon after that.
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