Polls have opened in the General Election as Britain decides who it wants to form its next government.

Polling stations across the country opened their doors at 7am and will remain open until 10pm in the first July election since 1945.

It follows six weeks of intense campaigning on issues including the cost of living, NHS, immigration and education.

Voters are being reminded that for the first time in a General Election, photo ID is required to vote.

Electors will have to bring a passport, driving licence, or other accepted form of ID with them to polling stations. An expired or out-of-date ID can be used if it still bears a good resemblance to you.

Photo ID has been required in recent local elections but today is the first time it has been needed in a national poll.

Electors have until 10pm to vote.Electors have until 10pm to vote. (Image: PA)

Anyone registered for a postal vote who did not return their ballot by mail can also hand it in at a polling station in their constituency before 10pm. No photo ID is needed to hand in a postal ballot, but a short form needs to be filled in.

Voters can also apply for an emergency proxy vote by filling in a form before 5pm if they are unable to make it to a polling station due to a medical emergency, work commitments if the photo ID they were planning on using is lost, stolen, damaged or destroyed, or if a new ID they have ordered is yet to arrive.

When polls close at 10pm the exit poll will drop, giving the first indication of the winners and losers.

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Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives will hope to defy opinion polling and secure a fifth term in office, while Sir Keir Starmer will hope those same polls showing huge leads for his Labour Party will become a reality.

Here in the North East vital battlegrounds could make all the difference for both parties, after the Tories broke down Labour’s Red Wall in 2019. All eyes will be on the region to see who will win those seats five years on.

The Northern Echo will bring you live coverage of every twist and turn, all of the results, reactions and analysis from across the North East and UK throughout the night on Thursday.