Local elections live: Labour, Reform and Tories prepare for results as polls close and vote counting begins / Nearly half Reform supporters want merger with Conservatives / Kemi Badenoch does not rule out local coalitions with Reform after Thursday's council elections / Tories may need to form coalition with Reform, says Ben Houchen / Voters deserting Labour and Tories as Reform to claim hundreds of seats at local elections, top pollster says / Tories urged not to 'panic' into uniting with Reform or removing Badenoch