America goes to the polls

Americans go to the polls on Tuesday to elect their 45th President after one of the most bitter and devisive election campaigns in recent history.

Democrat Presidential candidate Hilary Clinton has been locked in a savage battle with her Republican rival Donald Trump.

After months of insults and allegations the final few hours of campaigning has seen them criss-cross the eastern states where vital votes could decide the outcome.

There are thought to be 11 battleground states that will decide the winner – worth 146 of the 270 Electoral College votes a candidate needs to win.

They are: Ohio, Florida, Nevada, Colorado, North Carolina, Virginia, Iowa, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Voting begins at 6am on the day and the first polls will close at midnight UK time (00:00 GMT; 19:00 EST), with the first projections from states following shortly afterwards based on exit polls.

 

The two candidates need to win 270 of the 538 Electoral College votes to clinch the White House.