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The shock survey released shortly after polling stations closed at 10pm indicated that Theresa May's Commons majority has been wiped out. Her party is 12 seats short of the 326 they need for an absolute majority in the Commons. The poll put Tories on 314 seats, with Labour on 266, the SNP on 34, Liberal Democrats on 14, Plaid Cymru on three and Greens on one.

If confirmed, the PM is expected to seek to form a minority government seeking support from opposition MPs on a measure-by-measure basis. But the expected outcome will be seen as a devastating rebuff to Mrs May that will plunge Britain's departure from the EU into doubt. Tory MPs are likely to be furious that the Prime Minister's gamble in calling a snap general election has so badly backfired.

GETTY Election 2017: The results of the exit poll were released at 10pm

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn is expected to claim the outcome is a stunning vindication of the party's lurch to the hard-Left under his leadership. It would also represent a humilation for the SNP's Nicola Sturgeon, whose party won a historic 56 out of 59 seats in Scotland just two years ago. However, even after 30,000 voters were questioned at 144 polling stations, there is always a possibility that the exit polls may be misleading. In 2015, they significantly underestimated the Tory tally, putting David Cameron's party on 316 when it finally emerged with 331.

GETTY Theresa May and husband Philip May outside a polling station

The main party leaders were out early to cast their votes. Mrs May was smiling as she went to cast her ballot in her Maidenhead constituency with her husband Philip but did not speak to reporters. Mr Corbyn beamed optimistically at waiting cameras as he headed to a polling station in a primary school in his Islington North constituency. And the Lib Dem leader Tim Farron huddled under an umbrella on the way to vote in Kendal, Cumbria.

GETTY Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn casts his vote in Islington North

The poll brought six weeks of intense campaigning to an end in one of the strangest elections in living memory. For the first time in UK election history, campaigning was suspended twice following the horrific terrorist attacks in Manchester and London. In many parts of the country, security was tightened around polling stations following concerns jihadists could attempt to disrupt the democratic process. Armed police patrols were seen in some areas around schools, community centres and other buildings used for voting.

GETTY May shocked Westminster when she called the snap election in April