Voting for the North of Tyne mayor is under way.
Five candidates have been slogging it out for weeks to become the first person to hold the new office.
Here's everything you need to know about the election, candidates and how the voting system works.When is the election?
Voters will go to the polls for the first ever North of Tyne mayoral election on May 2, 2019.
The vote will be held on the same day as local council elections in Newcastle and North Tyneside.
Polls close at 10pm.
Who can vote?
Anyone who is registered and eligible to vote in Newcastle, Northumberland and North Tyneside can participate.
Who is standing?
Labour
Jamie Driscoll defeated Newcastle City Council leader Nick Forbes for the right to stand as Labour's candidate.
In a vote of party members, the left-wing candidate defeated Coun Forbes by 2,514 votes to 1,913.
The window for Labour candidates to self-nominate originally came and passed in late November but party bosses insisted it should be reopened in a bid to attract more diverse candidates.
North East MEP Paul Brannen was also running for the nomination but pulled out after failing to secure enough support.
Cullercoats Karen Lee put herself forward following the suspension of the process but withdrew before shortlisting took place.
Former North Tyneside cabinet member Ian Grayson originally put himself forward but withdrew and endorsed Coun Forbes on December 4.
Conservative Party
Businessman Charlie Hoult is the man running for the Tories - and has the backing of Sir John Hall.
Hoult hasn't wasted anytime and started campaigning early.
In a North of Tyne mayor should buy Newcastle United, candidate says, he suggested using a large chunk of the role’s budget to buy Newcastle United - though he later admitted the idea might be “implausible”.
Liberal Democrat
Former Newcastle councillor John Appleby has been chosen as the Lib Dem candidate.
He is a former head of mechanical engineering at Newcastle University and represented Woolsington ward between 2004 and 2007. He also previously stood as a mayoral candidate in North Tyneside and for a Parliamentary seat in Tynemouth.
Green Party
The Green Party has confirmed they won't field a candidate, citing the £5,000 deposit and objections to the role of they mayor as reasons.
North East Party
The local issues party ruled itself out because of the £5,000 deposit.
Founder Hilton Dawson said: "The scandalously high deposit means it isn't viable for smaller parties to stand in these races which is clearly undemocratic."
UKIP
UKIP have selected a former councillor who once suggested euthanasia be used to cut the number of children in care as their mayoral candidate for the North of Tyne.
Hugh Jackson resigned his seat on North Tyneside Council, where he sat as a Conservative, in 2008 after the comments made at a finance sub-committee meeting caused a political storm.
He suggested euthanasia as a possible solution in response to hearing that 43 vulnerable youngsters from the borough were cared for in other local authority areas at the time, costing the council £3.4m a year.
The former teacher, who represented the Monkseaton North ward, apologised and called his comment "misplaced humour", but was suspended by the Conservative Party and later resigned.
He has since stood as a UKIP candidate in several local elections in North Tyneside.
Independents
John McCabe, formerly president of the North East England Chamber of Commerce, is running as an independent candidate in May’s mayoral election. Read the full story here.
Businessman Ammar Mirza CBE claimed he would be the ideal candidate, but said he wouldn't be putting himself forward. Read his reasons why, here.
What will the mayor do?
The mayor will make decisions about what the new North of Tyne combined authority (NTCA) does jointly with the leaders of the three participating council - Newcastle City Council, North Tyneside Council and Northumberland County Council.
As well as those formal duties, the mayor will act as a figurehead for the region and work to promote the area and bring in investment and funding.
Formally established in November, the NTCA will have a range of powers over house-building, education and economic growth.
It is guaranteed to receive £600m for the Government to be invested in the area and it's forecast it could bring in £2.1bn in private sector investment.
When is the result?
The result won't be known announced until Friday.
Counting starts at 10am but we might not know the winner until well into the afternoon.
How does the voting system work?
It's a little more complicated than usual but we've got it all explained right here.
How long will the mayor serve for?
The first mayoral term will last for five years, meaning the next election will be in May 2024.
That will bring the region into line with other mayoral elections around the county, at which point the office will revert to a four year term.
Who is the interim mayor?
Norma Redfearn, the elected mayor of North Tyneside, was appointed interim mayor on December 4.
She will step aside when the new mayor is elected.
North of Tyne mayor should buy Newcastle United, candidate says
