Polls have opened in a historic referendum on whether the UK should remain a member of the European Union or leave.

Polling stations opened at 07:00 BST and will close at 22:00 BST.

Over 46 million people are entitled to take part in the vote, in what is only the third nationwide referendum in UK history and comes after a four-month battle for votes between the Leave and Remain campaigns.

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

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