Champagne is on ice at Boris's HQ

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Tory activists were confident that their candidate would oust Ken Livingstone from City Hall and win London from Labour. However, Mr Johnson, who was spending a quiet morning at home with his family, was more cautious as he awaited the final result.

Labour insiders were waiting nervously to see whether Mr Livingstone had lost his iron grip on the capital. A downbeat deputy leader Harriet Harman even admitted it was touch and go whether Mr Livingstone would be able to hang on. The party was taking some comfort from a high turnout in inner London but admitted there were concerns that would not be enough.

Election officials began counting the votes of more than two million Londoners today in one of the tightest election contests to date as the capital waited expectantly for the declaration of their Mayor.

Before the counts had begun, there were complaints at Excel centre that around 50 per cent, or 350, of the cardboard ballot boxes were already open.

One Assembly candidate complained to the returning officer that they should have remained sealed until the count started as they could have been tampered with.

Mr Livingstone and Mr Johnson were both out campaigning late last night before the Tory candidate joined his team for his first alcoholic drink for more than seven months.

The main rivals will have to wait up to 12 hours from the start of the count for returning officer Anthony Mayer to announce the final result at City Hall. If, as expected, turnout is high, the count could take even longer.

Mr Johnson and Mr Livingstone will join the other eight candidates at City Hall this afternoon for the result. Assembly candidates across the capital are also waiting to discover if they have succeeded in their battles for one of the 25 seats.