Crewe voters going to the polls

Voting continues until 10pm on Thursday

Voters are going to the polls in the Crewe and Nantwich by-election.

There are 10 candidates taking part in the contest, which follows the death of long-serving Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody last month.

Some 71,963 people are registered to vote, with turnout expected to be above 60%. Thursday's weather forecast is for a mixture of sunshine and showers.

Polling stations opened at 0700 BST, and close at 2200 BST. The result is expected at about 0230 BST on Friday.

RESULTS PROGRAMME There will be full coverage of the results in a special programme presented by Jon Sopel on the BBC's News Channel and BBC Two starting at ten to one on Friday morning

Mrs Dunwoody had been the MP for Crewe and Nantwich since the seat was created in 1983.

Her majority at the last general election, in 2005, was 7,078.

A poll for the ComRes suggests turnout will be higher than the 60% achieved at the last election. Between 15 and 18 May the company interviewed 1,001 adults living in the constituency.

The candidates for the Crewe and Nantwich by-election are:

The Flying Brick - The Official Monster Raving Loony Party

Tamsin Dunwoody - Labour

Gemma Garrett - Independent

Mike Nattrass - UK Independence Party

David Roberts - English Democrats

Elizabeth Shenton - Liberal Democrats

Robert Smith - Green Party

Paul Thorogood - Cut Tax on Petrol and Diesel

Edward Timpson - Conservatives

Mark Walklate - Independent