Which seats are up for grabs at the local elections?

More than 8,200 seats are up for grabs – and half of them are Conservative seats – so the elections on 2 May will be a key test for Theresa May. Candidates are contesting 248 English local councils and all 11 local councils in Northern Ireland.

There are also elections for six directly elected mayors – in Bedford, Copeland, Leicester, Mansfield, Middlesbrough and North of Tyne. No elections are taking place in London, Scotland or Wales.

More than half the councils – 134 – are controlled by the Tories, 67 by Labour. Seven are held by the Lib Dems and 35 have no overall control. The remaining five are new councils, owing to local authority mergers.

When will we get the results?

About half of councils’ votes are being counted overnight, with results expected from midnight. The other half will start being counted on Friday morning. Turnout is expected to be low – multiple party sources have said there is a general feeling of apathy and anger with politicians from across the spectrum.

What are the key battlegrounds for the Tories?

The Tories have quietly briefed that they are expecting a drubbing, which could mean council gains for both Labour and the Lib Dems.

The Tories are hoping to make some gains in places where they are just a few seats from winning control – just one seat is needed to gain Scarborough or two to gain Thurrock. Dudley and Walsall are also councils that will be a narrow fight between Labour and the Tories.

What are the key battlegrounds for Labour?

Key targets for Labour are Calderdale, Redcar and Cleveland and Trafford, all Labour minority councils, as well as Stoke-on-Trent and Derby, two councils controlled by a coalition of Tories, independents and smaller parties. Ukip is putting up a big fight in Derby, however.

Labour could also snatch Peterborough back from the Tories by forming a coalition with the Lib Dems if both parties have a good night. They also have high hopes of increasing their narrow majority in Plymouth.

What are the key battlegrounds for the Lib Dems?

The Lib Dems hope to make gains in Bath and North East Somerset, as well as potentially cannibalising their Conservative coalition partners in York – though Labour is also hoping to nab the city’s finely balanced council, which has a strong remain vote.

Vince Cable’s party also hope to gain Stockport from the minority Labour council and needs just one seat to gain the cathedral city of Winchester.

What pledges have the parties made?

Labour has made the most eye-catching national pledges of the local election campaign, including new funding of £1.3bn a year to reverse cuts made to bus routes by the Tories since 2010 and to fund the expansion of bus services.

It also announced plans for a major increase in the number of home care packages for older people and people living with dementia.

The Conservatives are expected to run on a platform of efficient local services and low council tax. The party’s chair, Brandon Lewis, has also talked up the green credentials of Conservative councils, which he claims recycle more waste than Labour councils and at a lower cost.