4 May 2012 Last updated at 12:54

All Highland Council’s meeting rooms in Inverness have been booked out in preparation for talks on forming a new ruling administration.

The first result from the count in the sports hall at Inverness Leisure was declared just before 10.30.

Counting is continuing, with a total of 22 multi-member wards up for grabs in the Highlands.

Negotiations on forming a new administration are expected to take several days.

Votes are also being counted in the Western Isles in the nine wards being contested in Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s election.

The turnout at polling stations in the Highlands was 41%, while the postal vote was 66%.

There was a 53.85% turnout at the last local authority election in 2007.

Before the election, Highland Council’s administration was made up of independents, Labour and Liberal Democrats.

Councillors seeking re-election were not the only ones whose performances being scrutinised – polling took place on the same day auditions for talent show guru Simon Cowell’s X Factor were being held in Inverness.

Independents dominated the comhairle’s administration.

ยท All the latest election results are available at bbc.co.uk/vote2012[1]

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Rooms booked for council talks