YORK residents face a prolonged wait this year before learning who their new councillors will be.

City of York Council is to delay counting its May 3 election results until the following day for the first time.

That means the traditional Thursday night tension and excitement will be delayed - and with it, the announcement of the result.

At the last elections on May 1, 2003, there was high drama at The Guildhall, as the Liberal Democrats ended 20 years of Labour control of the city.

But this time, candidates will go to bed on the Thursday unaware whether they have won or lost - and voters will remain in the dark over which party, if any, has taken control of the council.

And it's not only the timing that has changed - there's a new location as well.

Instead of the results being announced at the city's historic Guildhall, all ballot boxes are to be taken to the new Oaklands Sports Centre in the west of the city and counted there.

A council spokeswoman said: "In line with most other local authorities in Yorkshire, the count will be carried out on Friday, May 4, the day after polling. This is because of the extension of the poll until 10pm and the introduction of new legislation relating to postal votes, which requires all signatures and dates of birth to be checked. This will take a considerable length of time and will delay the counting process.

"This year, the count will be held centrally for the first time for local elections and Oaklands provides a suitable location."

The counts at Selby, Ryedale and Hambleton councils will also take place on the Friday, but East Riding of Yorkshire Council is holding its count on the Thursday night.