Most people walk or drive to their polling station but this voter has chosen a rather different method of transport.

He rode his horse to East Meon village hall in Hampshire to cast his vote.

The horse and a small dog tied up outside the village hall appeared to be eying each other up.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and his wife, Victoria, have cast their votes in Camden, north London.

Appropriately, he was wearing a red tie and she was wearing a red dress.

Earlier, actor Charles Dance was seen lining up to vote at the same polling station.

Award-winning actor Charles Dance, 77, has been seen waiting in line to cast his vote in Camden, north London.

Known for often playing villains, his latest roles have been as Tywin Lannister in Game of Thrones and Lord Mountbatten in The Crown.

George the Cocker Spaniel joined his one-year-old sister, Darcey, as their parents voted in Whitton, southwest London.

As anticipated, some voters are apparently keen to break the canine monopoly outside polling stations.

As such, Louie the cat is pictured outside this one in Burnham, Buckinghamshire.

SNP leader John Swinney has been spotted with his youngest son, Matthew, voting near his home in Perth and Kinross.

While Matthew, 14, is too young to vote, you are allowed to take children with you to polling stations, they just cannot vote.

Many people like to bring their children to educate them on the democratic process.

There are strict rules broadcasters have to adhere to on polling day, which is why you won't see any political news on the Sky News website or TV channel for the next 13 hours or so.

The rules are there to prevent any influence over how people choose to vote.

Ofcom rules state that any discussion and analysis of election issues must finish when the polls open, which was at 7am today.

Broadcasters are also not allowed to publish the results of any opinion poll on election day, until the polls close at 10pm.

Over the past decade, this has meant that photos of dogs at polling stations has become a phenomenon - in lieu of more substantial political news.

We will also be keeping a close out for people taking more unusual animals with them as they exercise their democratic right - so stay tuned for potential shots of voters accompanied by horses, cats and hamsters - as well as dogs, of course.

As longstanding followers of election day news output will be aware, photos of dogs at polling stations have become staple feature of coverage as Briton's cast their votes.

Luna the cockapoo is our first dog through the polling station door.

However, she wasn't allowed in at this venue in St Margarets, southwest London, but she waited patiently for her owners outside.

Some polling stations will allow dogs inside, but you should check first.

Guide dogs are always allowed in.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty, have been spotted voting at their local polling station in Richmond, Yorkshire.

The couple looked happy as the sun shone down while they voted.

Let's hope they remembered their ID.

It's 7am - polls are officially open in the general election.

Voters will head to polling stations across the United Kingdom to cast their ballots until they close at 10pm.

You will see almost no political coverage from Sky News today - strict rules prevent us from any reporting that could impact the way people vote.

But we will have coverage here in the Politics Hub of the party leaders casting their ballots - and of dogs at polling stations, of course!

At 9pm, chief presenter Kay Burley will anchor Election Night Live, the overnight results programme, from a 360-degree immersive studio normally used by Sky Sports shows like Monday Night Football, alongside our expert team.

And as soon as the polls close at 10pm, Sky News will bring you the exit poll - your first insight into how the general election results could play out, and live coverage of the results throughout the night.

So do join us tonight for the full results of this general election - and don't forget to vote (and bring ID!).