In pictures: Party leaders cast their votes as General Election polls open

The UK’s party leaders have cast their votes as the country goes to the polls in the 2019 General Election.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson was the first of the party leaders to cast his vote, but not for himself as he is registered to vote in Westminster rather than his own marginal London constituency.

Mr Johnson voted at the Methodist Central Hall, overlooked by Westminster Abbey, at around 8.15am and posed for pictures with his pet dog Dilyn.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his wife Laura Alvarez cast their votes at Pakeman Primary School in Islington, North London, where Mr Corbyn holds a sizeable majority.

He arrived at 9.25am, met by a small number of supporters and a protester dressed as Elmo from children’s TV show Sesame Street.

The demonstrator was restrained by security guards as she tried to approach Mr Corbyn as he entered the polling station.

A protester dressed as Elmo tries approach Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and his wife Laura Alvarez

As the woman in fancy dress argued with security and police, Mr Corbyn said: “Hello guys, can we stop the arguments please.”

He later posed for photographs with well-wishers outside the polling station.

Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has cast her vote in the General Election campaign.

The SNP leader was joined by her partner Peter Murrell, as well as the party’s Glasgow East candidate David Linden, at Broomhouse Community Hall in Uddingston.

SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon with husband Peter Murrell

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard cast his vote at Ralston Community Centre in Paisley.

Scottish Conservative leader Jackson Carlaw is voting in Clarkston and Scottish Greens co-leaders Patrick Harvie and Lorna Slater are casting their ballots in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson and her partner Duncan Hames leave after casting their their votes

Liberal Democrats leader Jo Swinson and her partner Duncan Hames were at Castlehill Primary School in Ms Swinson’s East Dunbartonshire constituency to record their votes this morning.

Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm, with the first Scottish results due at about 1am on Friday morning.

The bulk of constituencies across the UK are likely to declare between 3am and 5am.

A record total of 4,053,140 people in Scotland registered to vote ahead of the deadline on November 26 – including 728,148 to registered to vote by post.