  We present results from a large area (552\,\sqamin) imaging $K$-band survey
to a 5$\sigma$ limit of $K\simeq 17.3$. We have optical-infrared colours of
almost all the objects in the sample. Star-galaxy discrimination is performed
and the results used to derive the infrared star and galaxy counts. $K$-band
``no-evolution'' galaxy-count models are constructed and compared with the
observed data. In the infrared, there is no counterpart for the large excess of
faint galaxies over the no-evolution model seen in optical counts. However, we
show that the $K$ counts can be remarkably insensitive to evolution under
certain reasonable assumptions. Finally, model predictions for $K$-selected
redshift surveys are derived.
