The results for stage 1 of the Count have been announced by the Police Area Returning Officer Dr Jo Farrar.

The results indicate that no candidate has achieved an outright majority and therefore, the two candidates with the highest number of votes cast will go forward to stage 2 of the count. The candidates going forward to the second round are Sue Mountstevens (Independent), with 82,708 votes and Kerry Barker (Labour Party) with75,538 votes.

If no candidate has more than 50% of the vote all candidates from stage 1 of the count, apart from those in first and second place are eliminated from the count. The ballot papers showing a first preference for the eliminated candidates are checked for their second preference. Any second preference votes for the two remaining candidates are then added to the candidates’ first preference votes and the candidate with the most votes from stage 1 and stage 2 of the count combined is declared elected as Police and Crime Commissioner.

More information is available on www.avonpccelection2016.org.uk.