VOTES are now being counted for Brent and Harrow after a power cut caused delays. 

Machines at Alexandra Palace started an hour later than planned, just after 10am on Friday morning, and votes from the constituency are now being scanned and verified. 

At 1pm the Labour candidate for the Brent and Harrow for the London Assembly, Navin Shah, was in the lead with Sachin Rajput for the Conservatives in second place. 

Mr Shah said: "I am quietly optimistic at the moment. The campaign has been extremely solid and successful and I think we got the Labour message across very well. I look forward to working very, very hard for the communities in Brent and Harrow and across London to make sure we will deliver. It is too early to say but at the moment it is very good news and I hope it will continue in the same way until the last vote is counted."

His adversary, Mr Rajput, said: "I have really enjoyed the campaign and there has been such a positive response on the door steps in Brent and Harrow. The Conservative support is there and the message is clear, that Boris is the right person for London."Both candidates are watching the results come in at Alexandra Palace in Muswell Hill. 

At 1pm 95 per cent of the votes had been scanned and 12 per cent were verified. 

Navin Shah currently has a significant lead, followed by Sachin Rajput, Charlotte Henry for the Liberal Democrats, then Shahrar Ali for the Green Party and Michael McGough for UKIP. 

In the Mayoral race in Brent and Harrow Ken Livingstone is leading the polls, followed by Boris Johnson with Brian Paddick, Siobhan Benita and Jenny Jones vying for third place. 

Live updates are at www.londonelects.org.uk or follow @HannahBewley on Twitter for results into the evening.