Voting for cliffhanger UK poll begins

Polling booths opened across the United Kingdom for what is considered as the most tightly contested election since the World War II with Conservative party holding the edge in last night opinion polls.

Over 44 million people registered to vote are expected to vote for nearly 4,150 candidates in 649 constituencies from 0700 (GMT) until 2200 hrs (GMT).

Polling in one constituency - Thirsk and Malton - has been delayed until 27 May because of the death of one of the candidates during the campaign. The first declaration of results is expected at 11 pm.

The vast majority of constituencies will count votes and declare results overnight. As last night's opinion polls continued to predict a hung parliament with Conservative emerging as the largest single party, party leader David Cameron was likely to form a coalition government with MPs from Northern Ireland. Exit polls will be broadcast on television immediately after voting ends at 10pm.

Image: A voter leaves a polling station at Pitlochry Town Hall, Scotland, after voting in Britain's polls.

Photograph: Reuters/Russell Cheyne