Orkney's results declared for the 2017 Scottish Local Government elections

A total of 18 candidates were elected across the five contested wards: Kirkwall East, Kirkwall West and Orphir, West Mainland, East Mainland, South Ronaldsay and Burray and North Isles.

Three candidates were formally declared yesterday as the result of the uncontested election in the Stromness and South Isles ward, where the number of candidates was equal to or less than the number of seats available.

A total of 7470 took part in the yesterday's poll. Voter turnout across the contested wards was 49.7%

The first of the ballot boxes were opened at 8am this morning at the count centre in the Kirkwall Town Hall, with the first ward - Kirkwall East - declared at 9am.

Orkney was the first area in Scotland to complete the count and to declare all wards. The final result was announced at 9.38am this morning.

Candidates elected to form the new Council alongside Rob Crichton, James Stockan and Magnus Thomson in the uncontested Stromness and South Isles ward are:

• Kirkwall East ward - David Dawson, Steven Heddle, John Ross Scott, Gwenda Shearer.
• Kirkwall West and Orphir - Sandy Cowie, Barbara Foulkes, Leslie Manson, John Richards.
• West Mainland - Harvey Johnston, Rachael King, Owen Tierney, Duncan Allan Tullock.
• East Mainland, South Ronaldsay and Burray - Norman Craigie, Andrew Drever, Steve Sankey.
• North Isles - Stephen Clackson, Graham Sinclair, Kevin Woodbridge.

In his closing address, Returning Officer Alistair Buchan congratulated all the candidates for putting themselves forward to stand in the election. He offered commiserations to those who were not successful, and warm congratulations to those who were elected, and offered his thanks to all the staff involved.

View individual ward results here.