In pictures and video: Walsall results end with two Labour MPs and one Tory

Long-serving David Winnick was re-elected again for Labour along with fellow red Valerie Vaz.

While newcomer Wendy Morton ensured Aldridge Brownhills remained in the hands of the Tories after the stepping down of Sir Richard Shepherd.

There proved to be no major turnaround when the results of the count, at the Walsall campus of Wolverhampton University, came in at just before 5am today.

It was another triumph for Mr Winnick in Walsall North, who will be 86 at the time of the next election.

He said: "I am very pleased, of course I am honoured to continue to serve as an MP.

"I have never taken the constituency for granted for one minute, I will serve as best I can in the House of Commons and help constituents at the same time.

"I want to be as active as I always have been."

Click on each of the constituencies below for the latest on each area:

• Walsall North

• Walsall South

• Aldridge-Brownhills

But he took a swipe the way the Conservative candidate campaign had been conducted after the result was announced.

Ms Vaz also held her seat in Walsall South, overcoming the nearest Tory challenger with a large majority. She said: "It is a tribute to the work that we have done both in parliament and in the constituency on behalf of the constituents.

"I am going to continue to take up their cases and raise them both at the local level and nationally."

In Aldridge Brownhills it again proved a safe seat for the Conservatories with Mrs Morton keeping the tradition after Sir Richard stepped down.

She said: "It is a mixture of feelings, it is very humbling to be following someone like Richard Shepherd. It has been an amazing few months since being selected to this evening.

"I will work hard and always endeavour to do my best. I think every MP brings something different. I come from business background but I also come from an ordinary family background, where hard work was rewarded."

Our reporters were tweeting live from the counts:

Walsall North

Veteran Labour candidate David Winnick was fighting off the challenge of Tory, Douglas Hansen-Luke who was trying to claim a major upset.

David Winnick* (Lab) - 14,392

Douglas Hansen-Luke (Con) - 12,455

Liz Hazell (UKIP) - 8,122

Nigel Jones (Lib Dem) - 840

Mike Harrison (Green) - 529

Pete Smith (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition) - 545

Result: Labour hold Majority: 1,937

Turnout: 55.19%

2010

Lab 13,385

Con 12,395

Lib Dem 4,754

BNP 2,930

UKIP 1,737

Democratic Labour 842

Christian 144

Defending the seat, Mr Winnick was hoping to win his ninth election in Walsall and 10th parliamentary victory in his political career spanning half a century.

If successful, Mr Winnick will be 86 years old by the time of the next scheduled General Election.

Mr Hansen-Luke has been campaigning in the constituency for two years with nearly 4,000 likes on his Facebook page and nearly 2,000 Twitter followers.

He was one of the first prospective MP to attend the count, observing the scenes of the count and speaking to well-wishers.

Mr Hansen-Luke said: "We genuinely had a very good response in a number of the different wards. In some of the wards Labour wasn't mentioned at all.

"I want to bring hope and ambition."

He also praised the role of his support team who have been campaigning with him. He has been organising jobs fairs and arranging African exploration projects for schools as he tries to raise his profile.

Mr Hansen-Luke has also been critical of Mr Winnick, accusing him of doing little for people on local issues in the constituency.

But Mr Winnick was heavily fancied to retain the seat he has represented since 1979.

He won by 990 votes in 2010 with 37 per cent of the vote.

Labour leader in Walsall, Councillor Sean Coughlan said although he was not happy with first indications of the national picture there had been a lot of support for the party in the borough.

"We have had some fantastic responses on the doorstep. We have had some really positive feedback for David.

"David is well liked, he is a true gentleman, he is well-respected," Councillor Coughlan said.

The Conservatives came second in 2010 with 34 per cent.

This time around, the UKIP vote could hit both the traditional parties but the Eurosceptics' campaign has not been as prominent as it has in places such as Dudley North.

The seat is 13th on the Tories' list of target constituencies in terms of the smallest majorities to overturn.

The constituency has seen mid-ranking Cabinet level ministers visit including, Defence Secretary Michael Fallon, Justice Secretary Chris Grayling, and Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan-Smith.

For Labour, Shadow Health Secretary Andy Burnham has been to support Mr Winnick.

During the campaign the closure of the Black Country University Technical College in the town also erupted into a row, with Mr Hansen-Luke and Mr Winnick trading blows over who had done what to help those students affected.

The only time the Tories held the seat was for a three-year period following the infamous John Stonehouse saga when the Labour MP faked his death on November 20, 1974 to set up a new life in Australia where he was later caught, extradited and imprisoned for fraud.

Walsall South

It has long been a Labour seat - and after a frantic flicking of counting fingers the party were hoping to cling on to Walsall South.

Valerie Vaz* (Lab) - 19,740

Sue Arnold (Con) - 13,773

Derek Bennett (UKIP) - 6,540

Charlie Fletcher (Green) - 1,149

Joel Kenrick (Lib Dem) - 676

Result: Labour hold Majority: 6,007

Turnout: 61.8%

2010

Lab 16,211

Con 14,456

Lib Dem 5,880

UKIP 3,449

Christian 482

Independent 404

Valerie Vaz, won the seat in 2010 with a slender 1,755 majority, but it still meant she was the favourite to be re-elected.

However, the influence of Nigel Farage's party was not to be ruled as they sought to improve on a 8.4 per cent share of the vote.

Out of any of the constituencies, it was thought it could be where Labour and the Tories faced losing votes to the Eurosceptics.

Derek Bennett stood for UKIP with Joel Kendrick for the Liberal Democrats and Charlotte Fletcher for the Green Party.

In her manifesto Ms Vaz said: "I will continue to advocate for an NHS putting patients before profits, for education that unleashes all our unique talents, for decent affordable homes, for the right to enjoy the dignity of work, for an environment which fosters our well-being.

"With a Labour government I will work to reverse the privatisation of the NHS, ensure public services are efficient and responsive to local needs whilst protecting the vulnerable and to promote a society working together for the common good."

In comparison, Walsall South was more noticeably quiet during the campaign trail.

It is seat that has been held by Labour since 1974.

It remains to be seen how much the UKIP vote has affected the Conservatives and Labour. The Conservative candidate Sue Arnold, who grew up in the town and is currently the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire.

Skills and employment rank high, as well as the multi-million pound cuts made to local services by the council – including potential youth club closures and cuts to children's centres.

Funding for the Manor Hospital – dealing with an influx of patients from Staffordshire – is also a priority.

Libraries have been temporarily saved but there are fears they could be the next thing to go. Investment in job opportunities at Phoenix 10 and the town centre regeneration will be pivotal in bringing prosperity to an area where deprivation is fairly high.

Aldridge-Brownhills

Wendy Morton was aiming to be the first female MP for Aldridge Brownhills - and continue the Conservative stronghold - on a night of high drama.

Wendy Morton (Con) - 20,558

John Fisher (Lab) - 8,835

Anthony Thompson (UKIP) - 7,751

Ian Garrett (Lib Dem) - 1,330

Martyn Curzey (Green) - 826

Mark Beech (Monster Raving Loony Party) - 197

Result: Conservative win Majority: 11,723

Turnout: 65.6%

2010

Con 22,913

Lab 7,467

Lib Dem 6,833

Green 857

Christian 394

The Yorkshire farmer's daughter has taken over from Sir Richard Shepherd who has retired after 36 years in Westminster.

Mrs Morton was named as Sir Richard's replacement as Conservative candidate when he announced he was stepping down late last year with a very strong Tory majority of 15,256.

She was up against Labour's John Fisher, Mark Beech, of the Monster Raving Loony Party, Martyn Curzey of the Green Party, Liberal Democrats Ian Garrett and Anthony Thompson of the Liberal Democrats.

She said: "As a believer of hard work and straight talking, I will stand up for Aldridge Brownhills and fight for the issues that matter to our area. To deliver the services we all value, and the environment we all enjoy, we need a strong economy, strong education and strong communities."

Sir Richard attended the count and said it was unusual this time around not to be finding out his own fate.

He said: "I will miss it. My time with Aldridge Brownhills has been truly wonderful."

Mrs Morton received the backing of stalwart Conservative candidate Gary Clarke. He said: "We have been out with her in all the wards.

"Considering she is knew everybody seemed to know who she is. She is pro-people, she is absolutely fantastic."

The closest Labour has got to winning the seat since 1974 was in 1997 at the height of Blair Mania when Janos Toth, who was last night contesting Cannock Chase for Labour, came within 2,500 votes of dethroning Sir Richard.

In his manifesto, Mr Fisher said: "My priorities are jobs and investment into Aldridge Brownhills. We need higher skills for young people and more apprenticeships.

"I want to protect and improve public services like the NHS."

Set in the outskirts of Walsall, the constituency has seen its fair share of cuts.

The Manor House Youth Centre in Aldridge is one of 10 that will close under Walsall Council. The popular service has been running in the village for decades.

The council has seen a powershift in the last year, with Labour becoming the biggest party, replacing a Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition.

Mrs Morton is a former executive officer in HM Diplomatic Service at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in London. She then worked in the business sector, in sales and marketing.

She set up an electronics and manufacturing business with her husband with a £40 a week enterprise allowance. Almost 25 years later, it is still a family focused business, designing and manufacturing electronic goods for the farming industry.

The constituency covers Aldridge, Walsall Wood, Brownhills, Rushall, Shelfield, Streetly and Pelsall.