Labour is this morning counting the cost of devolution after being defeated in at least two of four elections for directly elected mayors.

As independents won the day in Stoke and Mansfied, Labour was left looking to Hackney in London for crumbs of comfort.

In Stoke, the Labour MP George Stevenson lost out to independent gay rights campaigner Mike Wolfe.

The Mansfield poll saw a second independent, Tony Eggington, defeating the official Labour candidate by under 600 votes.

In Bedford a recount is underway - with an independent candidate thought set to trump Labour.

Hackney saw Labour's only victory of the night, where Hackney council leader Jules Pipe saw off a twin challenge from the Conservatives and left-wing journalist Paul Foot.

In each election turnout was less than 25 per cent.