YORK’S political leaders were today anxiously awaiting the local election outcome which will decide who rules the city for the next four years.

The count for City of York Council’s elections was taking place at the Energise sports centre in Acomb, with votes also being totted up for local authorities in Selby, Hambleton, Harrogate and East Yorkshire.

To win overall control in York – which currently has a hung council – a party has to claim 24 of the authority’s 47 seats, and the results from its 22 wards were due to start emerging later this morning.

The Liberal Democrats are looking to extend their eight years in power, but their leader, Andrew Waller, said last night: “Clearly, this campaign has been very tough.

“While the people we have met are happy with the services they have received from the council, there are also other influences on people’s votes.”

Conservative group leader Ian Gillies said: “It appears turnout may be low, which would be disappointing, but I hope I’m proved wrong.

“Our support has been encouraging and we’re confident without being over-confident.”

And Green group leader Andy D’Agorne said: “We feel we’ve run a successful campaign and had good support across the board, so we’re confident of increasing our share of the vote and our council presence.”

James Alexander, who leads the council’s Labour group, said: “We have fought a very hard and strong campaign. We have come from quite a low base and it’s been a difficult fight.

“It hasn’t been easy, but we’ve been fighting for every seat we can in the interests of the people of York.”