Voters in England and Wales have been voting today to elect councillors, metro mayors and police and crime commissioners.

It's the last big electoral test before the general election - and Sky News will have live coverage as we bring you everything as soon as it happens.

We'll have expert commentary and analysis to help you digest key developments. Whether you're on the go, at home or at work, you'll be able to stay updated however you choose.

We've been limited in what we can bring you today due to reporting restrictions, but that all changes from 10pm…

10pm Thursday into Friday

Polls close at 10pm and the action will begin from midnight.

Jonathan Samuels will present our special overnight results programme Vote 2024 from 12am to 6am, as the race to count votes begins.

He'll be joined by political correspondents Tamara Cohen and Gurpreet Narwan.

We will also have expert regional correspondents in key voting areas across the UK, including the by-election in Blackpool South.

Read more here:

The pups are at the polls once more as voters turn out for local elections with four-legged friends in tow.

We've brought you some of the best pictures in the Politics Hub today, but there are plenty more where they came from.

You can see a full round-up of the most adorable pics below:

An MP has said his dyspraxia caused him to misplace his photo ID ahead of today's elections, warning people against an online "pile-on" over the issue. 

Tom Hunt, the Conservative MP for Ipswich, was forced to arrange an emergency proxy vote in today's elections after being unable to find appropriate ID.

Voters are required to provide a valid photo ID in order to cast their ballots. 

Writing on X, Mr Hunt said: "I understand the interest in my emergency proxy vote today. I do tend to be bad at losing stuff. I’m also very dyspraxic.

"Though I don’t want to blame this on everything it does make things challenging for me and I do my best but I do lose things and today it was my passport."

He told the PA news agency: "It's all well and good people saying we need to have more neurodiverse members of parliament, but having a massive pile-on on them, I don't think it's going to encourage more people."

People whose ID has been lost, stolen or damaged can apply for an emergency proxy vote until 5pm on polling day, allowing someone else to vote on their behalf.

Mr Hunt confirmed he had managed to organise the proxy vote and his "vote is cast".

While millions of us have been out voting, we've heard from the prime minister's official spokesperson this afternoon.

They were asked whether Rishi Sunak is happy with how the requirement for voters to show photo ID is going following reports of some people having issues - including a serviceman who wasn't allowed to use his veterans ID card (see pinned post).

Earlier, veterans' affairs minister Johnny Mercer said the legislation on acceptable forms of ID - including passports and driving licences - had come into force before the veterans ID card was introduced.

Number 10 has promised it will now be added to the list.

"The vast majority of voters have cast their votes successfully," said Mr Sunak's spokesperson.

"The new veteran card will be officially added to the list."

By Faye Brown, political reporter

Pint-sized bottles of wine will be allowed on UK shelves from autumn under new post-Brexit trade rules - but doubts have been raised over their demand.

Business minister Kevin Hollinrake said seven changes to pre-packaged wine sizes are due to come into force on 19 September.

Announcing the date in the House of Commons, he said the measure will support the "thriving" UK wine sector by providing opportunities for "innovation and greater choice".

But the SNP's Patrick Grady said the government should admit there is "little to no demand or interest for this supposedly glorious Brexit benefit".

Read more below:

As we've been reporting today, the race is on to find a new SNP leader and first minister of Scotland.

John Swinney is the first to announce his candidacy, and the woman tipped to run against him - Kate Forbes - has since said she won't.

So, could we be heading for more of a coronation than a race?

And if so, who is the man that would be crowned first minister?

Our Scotland reporter Jenness Mitchell has more on Mr Swinney's life and political career to date…

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has just given Sky News his take on today's developments in the SNP leadership race.

As a reminder, former leader John Swinney has announced his candidacy and could-be rival Kate Forbes has said she won't run after all.

Mr Sarwar said: "It's clear there's going to be a stitch-up and coronation for John Swinney."

Swinney is 'yesterday's man'

Speaking to our Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies, he reflected on what former first minister Nicola Sturgeon said when Rishi Sunak took over from Liz Truss in Downing Street.

"She said the door of Downing Street was not a revolving door, that the office of prime minister was not the gift of one political party, that it would be a democratic outrage if it didn't go back to the people to decide who should run the country," he said.

"And she now sees the SNP hold Scotland to a lower standard than the UK and the Conservative Party."

He described Mr Swinney as "yesterday's man" who "doesn't represent change" and described the SNP as being in "chaos".

John Swinney, the man who looks set to become the next leader of the SNP, has admitted the party is going through a tough time.

He spoke to our Scotland correspondent Connor Gillies after announcing his leadership bid this morning.

You can watch it below:

Protesters in Peckham, south London, have blocked a coach due to take asylum seekers who have been housed in a local hotel to the Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset.

Police have warned the demonstrators will be arrested if they do not leave the scene.

Home Secretary James Cleverly has addressed the incident on social media, saying: "Housing migrants in hotels costs the British taxpayer millions of pounds every day. 

"We will not allow this small group of students, posing for social media, to deter us from doing what is right for the British public."

Our correspondent Sadiya Chowdhury is at the scene, and says protesters have been chanting in solidarity with migrants and voicing opposition to the police.

It is something of a tradition to show pictures of dogs at polling stations on an election day. 

Donkeys, not so much - until now. 

Please enjoy this glum looking donkey waiting in a parking bay at a village hall polling station in the New Forest. 

And in case you are wondering why dogs (and now donkeys) are such a feature of our election coverage today, it's (partly) down to reporting restrictions. 

On polling day, you won't see any coverage about politics or policy concerning the parties involved.

Instead, you will see coverage of people voting, politicians casting their ballots and yes …  lots of dogs at polling stations.