The City of Chester constituency is at centre of a media spotlight tonight as the voting public waits to find out if Labour’s Christine Russell can hang onto her slender majority in the key marginal seat.
Ms Russell, who is defending a 917 majority, is facing tough competition from Conservative Stephen Mosley and the Lib Dem’s Lizzie Jewkes.
Among the 17 media organisations expected to represented at the count, taking place in the Northgate Arena leisure centre, are the BBC, Sky and ITN.
About 80 volunteers were due to count the votes coming in from all corners of the constituency. They are conducting the count in the surreal surroundings of a sports hall - surrounded by basketball hoops and netting - which was buzzing in anticipation of the long night ahead.
Overlooking proceedings from the viewing gallery early on was a group of sweaty men who had just taken part in a game of squash.
Returning officer Steve Robinson, the chief executive of Cheshire West and Chester Council, was wandering among the helpers keeping an eye on arrangements as were a handful of police officers.
A council spokesman said the result was expected to be declared about 2-2.30am.
