In pictures: US election day 2016

The US president-elect Donald Trump took to the stage at his victory rally in New York and said: "I just received a call from Secretary Clinton. She congratulated us on our victory."

A dramatic night in the US presidential race saw the Republican candidate defy the polls and sweep to victory in a number of key states, including Florida, Ohio and North Carolina. His supporters could hardly believe it as they began to party at a rally in New York as Mr Trump edges closer to victory.

Mr Trump's Ohio win was a big boost to him and his supporters, as no Republican has ever taken the White House without winning the state.

A short distance away there were tears as supporters of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton realised the vote was not going their way.

Mrs Clinton won the Democratic heartlands of California, Oregon, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Vermont, Delaware, Illinois, Rhode Island, Hawaii, Washington and District of Columbia, as well as New Mexico and Colorado.

More than 100 million Americans went to the polls to decide their next president, with voters in several states facing long queues

Earlier in the day Mrs Clinton greeted supporters with her husband, former US president Bill Clinton, after voting in Chappaqua, New York. National polls had given Mrs Clinton a four-point lead over Mr Trump with many believing she would cross the finishing line with ease.

Mr Trump also cast his vote with his wife in New York. Both candidates had targeted battleground states on Monday, with last-minute campaigning taking them to rallies in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Michigan.

In Los Angeles, California, one girl waited patiently while her mother cast her vote.

Fabio Alvarado, 91, originally from El Salvador, was sworn in as a US citizen on election day and arrived with his wife Marta, 80, to vote at LA County Registrar's office in Norwalk, California.

At Penn State University's campus one freshman hoped to convince others to vote for Trump.

Hillary Clinton supporter Jorge Mendez of Glendale, Arizona wore a dress and Hillary Clinton mask to show where his allegiance lies.

Americans also voted for Congress. All seats in the House of Representatives were up for grabs, and a third of seats in the Senate.

All 50 states and Washington DC voted across six different time zones.

A voter in Kansas prepared to cast his vote in the state that has been won by the Republicans every year since 1968.

A record number of Americans - more than 46 million - voted early by post or at polling stations.

For some the animosity between the two candidates left them feeling far from inspired.

Before polls closed reporters began to gather at Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's election night rally in New York.

Across town final touches were put in place at the Jacob K Javits Convention Center for the Democrat rally.

Interest in the election was not confined to the US. In the Netherlands people posed for photographs with portraits of presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump.

Back in the US as early results came in people gathered to show support for their chosen candidate, here at an election night rally in Indianapolis

While Clinton supporters enjoyed the atmosphere, at that stage it was looking good for their candidate.

Donald Trump Junior posted a picture of Mr Trump and his family and supporters watching the results come in.

One of the key states was Florida, where the count was very tight but was eventually won by Mr Trump.

Outside the Rockefeller Center in New York people stopped to look at news reports on a screen...

While in the Brooklyn Borough of the city supporters of Hillary Clinton gathered to await results.

Over at the Trump rally supporters looked on as early results suggested their candidate was doing better than expected.

While at the Clinton rally the mood darkened.

All photographs are copyrighted.