Heavy police presence at General Election 2017 counts as UK remains on terror alert
ARMED cops were on duty across the UK as election counts took place overnight.
Officers were seen patrolling the counts in Newcastle under Lyme in Staffordshire and in three Sunderland constituencies as counting began.
Counts took place in constituencies across the UK after a day of voting across Britain yesterday.
Officers patrolled a sports centre in Sunderland as counters raced to once again share the constituency's results first.
But in a blow for the northern city they were pipped to the post by rivals Newcastle - in what many called an "election count derby".
Reporter Tom Wilkinson tweeted an image of officers guarding the count.
He wrote: "Never seen this before - armed police at the election count in Sunderland tonight."
Officers were also stationed outside Jeremy Corbyn's north London home as results came in.
Sky's Jason Farrell tweeted an image of officers with guns outside his house in Islington, London.
He wrote: "JC under extra protection it seems."
It comes after a terrible night for the Tories, ending with a hung parliament.
The Conservatives are projected to end the night with 314 seats with Jeremy Corbyn’s party up to 266.
More armed officers have been patrolling Britain's streets in the wake of three terror attacks in the last three months.
It comes after officers shot dead three attackers who rampaged through London Bridge last Saturday.
ISIS fanatics killed eight people and injured 48 in the sick attack in the capital.
Theresa May this week vowed to stamp out Islamic extremism, saying "enough is enough".
Some of the key details from the turbulent night so far:
- Hung parliament confirmed with Tories missing out on majority of 326 with polls predicting 318 seats - down from 330
- Labour forecast to take 262 - up from 232 in 2015. They are
- Theresa May faces mounting pressure – with the odds slashed on Boris Johnson to be the next PM
- Fears grow Brexit negotiations could be sunk if Mrs May does not secure a majority
- Lib Dem Nick Clegg loses Sheffield Hallam seat but Vince Cable regains Twickenham while leader Tim Farron clings on
- Home Secretary Amber Rudd holds on to Hastings seat by barely 300 votes
- Huge losses for SNP as former chief Alex Salmond and deputy leader Angus Robertson are both beaten by the Tories.
- Labour on march in London beating Tories to Battersea constituency
- Pound slides two per cent as exit poll predicts hung parliament
- Ukip voters desert party with vote share down by ten per cent
- Growing fears that Mrs May will have to call a second election later this year
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368