Professor Sir John Curtice
Polling expert

The variation in the ups and downs in the parties' shares of the vote reflects differences in how constituencies voted in the 2016 referendum.

The Conservatives are expected to advance most strongly and Labour fall back most in areas that voted most strongly for Leave - many of them more working class seats.

In contrast, the Conservative share of the vote is expected to fall back on 2017 in those areas that voted most strongly for Remain, while Labour’s vote is expected to fall back rather less.

However, even in the most strongly pro-Remain seats there could still be a small swing from Labour to the Conservatives.

One consequence of this pattern is that the Conservative share of the vote is expected to fall back slightly both in London and in Scotland, and do little more than replicate the 2017 vote in the South East outside of London.

The party will advance most strongly in the Midlands and the North of England.

The pattern of Labour performance is largely the obverse of the Conservative Party, with the party’s votes falling most heavily in the North and Midlands.

Voters have been to the polls to decide who will form the next UK government.

Good evening and welcome to our live election coverage across Cumbria.

Stay with us through the night for every single result and reaction from our 35 constituencies, plus colour and behind the scenes insights from our reporters at every single count.

But first we have to mention the BBC, ITV and Sky exit poll which predicts that the Conservatives will win 368 seats.

"The principal aim of the exit poll is to help viewers and listeners to navigate the initial hours of election night as the first results come in," said Prof Sir John Curtice, political commentator for BBC News.

In 2017, the poll correctly predicted there would be a hung parliament.

It even predicted the Conservatives would take 314 seats - three fewer than the 317 the party ended up with.

But all this will be revealed as the night goes on.

Martin Lewes
Reporter

The polling stations are open until 22:00 and we'll be back from then to post all the election results from Cumbria through the night.

Until then we've handed over to the software to post any major breaking news or travel reports.

Here's a reminder of some of today's other developments:

• A woman told us of the long struggle she was having to recover from an incident in Penrith 18 months ago where she was hit by a car that had mounted the pavement, and suffered injuries leading to the loss of both of her legs
• A housing organisation and developer announced plans for four large extra care housing projects for older people in Cumbria, an investment worth £60m, with work already started on the first on the edge of Kendal
• And the rugby star Gareth Thomas passed through the county on a sponsored cycle ride to Aberdeen, towing the BBC Sports Personality of the Year trophy and getting, he said, freezing cold and wet raising money for Sport Relief.

If there's anything you think we should know or you want to share a photo you've taken in the county, send us an email, message us on Facebook, external, or tweet us on Twitter, external.

Have a very good evening.

BBC Weather

This evening and tonight, it will remain largely cloudy with showery areas of rain drifting across the region.

Over the hills, there is the continued chance of some sleet or wet snow, with lowest temperatures from -1C to 2C (30C to 36F).

You can always check the latest, hour-by-hour, BBC weather forecast for where you are, here.

BBC News finds the unusual places polling stations are open as dogs wait for their voting owners.

A court's heard how a crisis worker at the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven was left in fear of her life when a patient turned aggressive when he was told he wouldn't be admitted to a mental health hospital.

John Ian Pullin, 32, told a female crisis practitioner in the accident and emergency department that he was homeless and needed somewhere "safe" to live, Carlisle Crown Court was told

But when Pullin was told he would not be admitted to a mental health hospital because he was not deemed a risk to himself or others, he wrapped a bed sheet around his hands, approached the woman and shouted at her aggressively with "gritted teeth".

Pullin, of no fixed address, admitted assault and was remanded in custody to be sentenced in February

Judge Peter Davies said punishment would be based on the defendant's behaviour in the meantime.

A Cumbrian skier is going to travel the length of Norway in winter to raise money for a friend who became paralysed after a skiing accident.

Image source, Ben Bardsley

Ben Bardsley (pictured), from Keswick, says his expedition will take three months and could see him encountering temperatures below -25C.

He is hoping to avoid having to camp out.

A 33-year-old man from Kirkby Stephen has been jailed for two years today at York Crown Court, after drugs valued at £5,000 were found by police who stopped him on the A1 in North Yorkshire.

Christopher Turnbull-Allen from Westgarth Court had admitted a charge of possession of the class-B Mephedrone, commonly known as M-cat, with intent to supply.

Work has started near Kendal on the first of four 'extra care' housing developments in Cumbria, at a total cost of £60m.

Image source, Engie

The first scheme, at Oxenholme (artist's impression above), will provide 80 flats and 24 bungalows which are being built for Housing 21, a non-profit organisation, external that runs a number of similar extra care complexes.

Housing 21 manages about 20,000 retirement and extra care homes, where more support is provided tor residents.

The £15m Oxenhome scheme should be complete in summer 2021, and the builders, Engie, say the company is working on another three in the county at a total cost of £60m, although it did not say where.

Police say they are concerned for Luke Walker, 30, who has been reported missing since last being seen outside the Mortal Man pub at Troutbeck, near Ambleside, on Monday evening.

Image source, Cumbria Police

Mr Walker, who lives locally but is originally from Blackpool, is believed to be driving a white Fiat 500, with the registration PK14 PPY.

Police say they would like to hear from him or anyone who has information.

News and Star
Newspaper

Equipment to measure levels of radiation has appeared on a playing field in Workington, external.

Image source, News and Star

The vet looking after the kitten says it is "unscathed" and new owners are lining up to take it.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
John Connell

Copeland council has reported a surge in applications from jobseekers interested in roles in departments such as planning and building control, which the authority previously struggled to fill.

Image source, Google

A report written by Claire Dunn, the council’s human resources ranager, said that the number of applicants who were “suitable candidates” for posts was also rising, adding that the increase might indicate that the council was being recognised as a “fair and good employer”.

A fraudster caught by police after a BBC Crimewatch appeal has had his jail sentence extended by a judge for failing to attend court for both his trial and sentencing hearing.

David Lukac, 27, was one of two men whose £18,000 cross-border swindle involved bringing a Slovakian farmer to Ravenstonedale on the promise of buying a cheap tractor that he never received.

The two men were caught, but, while one went to court, admitted fraud and was given a suspended sentence, Lukac failed to attend, was found guilty in his absence, and sentenced to 30 months in prison.

He was arrested after the Crimewatch appeal in September, and appeared over a video link before a Carlisle Crown Court judge from prison, where he is now serviing his time.

Judge Julie Clemitson gave Lukac an extra four weeks for failing to turn up in court the first time.

BBC Weather

It will be rather cold and wet this afternoon with showery rain in places.

Over the higher hills this could fall as sleet or even wet snow with highest temperatures from 2 to 5C (36 to 41F).

You can always find the latest BBC weather forecast for where you are, here.

Police investigating a robbery in Maryport say they found a pair of shoes which they believe may have been taken in another, unreported, burglary.

Image source, Cumbria Police

Officers say the shoes are distinctive and they would like to reunite them with the owner.

Assembling a nuclear submarine from components made at various workshops on Barrow Island means regular slow journeys for the low loaders that take them all to the giant Devonshire Dock Hall.

Sometimes it is fairly obvious what they are, in other cases, less so...

The Welsh rugby star, Gareth Thomas, is riding through Cumbria today, heading to Aberdeen to deliver the BBC Sports Personality of the Year trophy.

The former British Lions captain is cycling from Cardiff to Aberdeen for Sunday's awards ceremony and raising money for Sport Relief.

Today's leg should take him from Kendal to Gretna Green, and he is finding it wet, cold and emotional.

Sian Hall
BBC Radio Cumbria

A woman who had both legs amputated after being hit by a car in Penrith town centre says she's struggled to find her independence since the accident more than 18 months ago.

Image source, Google

In May last year, Janice Russell was hit by a car which mounted the kerb, crushing both of her legs, as she came out of a town centre bank. The driver had lost control of the car and died.

Janice says she has struggled to come to terms with walking on prosthetic legs and using a wheelchair.

But she says even the bureaucracy involved in issues like insurance has been a burden.