UK goes to the polls in a historic referendum

Voting is taking place in a historic referendum on whether the UK should remain a member of the European Union or leave.

A record 46,499,537 people are entitled to take part, according to provisional figures from the Electoral Commission.

Polling stations will close at 22:00 BST with counting throughout the night.

It is only the third nationwide referendum in UK history and comes after a four-month battle for votes between the Leave and Remain campaigns.

In common with other broadcasters, the BBC is limited in what it can report while polls are open but you can follow the results as they come in across the BBC after polls close on Thursday evening.

The referendum ballot paper asks the following question: "Should the United Kingdom remain a member of the European Union or leave the European Union?"

Whichever side gets more than half of all votes cast is considered to have won.

The weather forecast for polling day is mixed.

There have been thunderstorms in London and south-east England which caused flooding overnight.
Kingston upon Thames Council in south west London has moved two polling stations after they were inundated with water.

Prime Minister David Cameron cast his vote in London with wife Samantha

Sunshine and heavy showers are forecast for Northern Ireland and Scotland but it is set to be drier and brighter elsewhere.

After the referendum polls close, sealed ballot boxes will be collected and transported to the count venue for each of the 382 local counting areas.

These represent all 380 local government areas in England, Scotland and Wales, plus one each for Northern Ireland and Gibraltar.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn voted in Islington

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon cast her vote in Glasgow

Polling stations are open until 22:00 BST

Voting is taking place in a range of buildings, including this pub near Tunbridge Wells

There was heavy rain in some parts of the country including Newham, east London

The Electoral Commission estimates a final result "around breakfast time" on Friday.

The last nationwide referendum took place five years ago, when voters rejected an attempt to change the way MPs are elected.

The first one was in 1975, when the country was asked whether the UK should continue to be a member of what was then called the European Economic Community.




-BBC.