Millions of people in constituencies across the UK are casting their votes in the general election.

Polling stations up and down the country opened at 0700 BST and people will be able to cast their ballots until 2200 BST.

More than 44 million people are registered to vote. The first declarations are expected at 2300 BST.

As well as picking MPs for Westminster, voters will elect councillors in 164 local authorities across England.

Voting in the general election will take place in 649 constituencies, with nearly 4,150 candidates standing for election across the country.

David Cameron was the first of the main UK party leaders to cast their vote. The Tory leader went to a community hall in Witney, Oxfordshire, shortly after 1030 BST, accompanied by his wife Samantha.

Labour leader Gordon Brown went to vote shortly after 1100 BST at a community centre close to his home in North Queensferry, Fife. His wife Sarah was with him.

Nick Clegg, leader of the Liberal Democrats, arrived at a polling station in Sheffield Hallam at 1120 BST. His wife Miriam is unable to vote in the general election because she is a Spanish citizen.

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 vast majority of constituencies will conduct their counts overnight, with about 20 not due to begin the process until after 0900 GMT on Friday.

Among the council elections taking place, voters will choose representatives in 32 London boroughs, 36 metropolitan authorities and 20 unitary authorities.

In these elections, a total of 15,785 candidates are contesting 4,222 seats.

Voting will also take place to choose mayors in Hackney, Newham, Lewisham and Watford.

UK Independence Party Euro-MP Nigel Farage has been involved in a light plane crash near Brackley, Northants.

The former leader of UKIP, who is standing in the general election in Buckingham, suffered non life-threatening injuries when the aircraft came down just after 0800 BST.

He was taken to hospital in Banbury, Oxfordshire, while the pilot has been sent to University Hospital in Coventry.

The crash is being investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch and Northamptonshire Police. Initial reports suggested the aircraft was towing an aerial banner.

A UKIP spokesman said: "We've had unconfirmed reports that either the banner got snagged up or there were cross-winds and it was unfamiliar airfield to the pilot, who had to be cut out of the plane."

Mr Farage suffered "minor head injuries" but campaigners had been told to "carry on", he said.

Source BBC