UK general election voting begins

Millions of people across the UK have started 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.
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.

ELECTION 2010 ON THE BBC
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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.
Mr Farage, 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 the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk_politics/election_2010/8663716.stm