Time is running out for voters in Newham to have their say on how the UK elects its MPs.

Polling stations across the borough were quiet this morning as the first UK-wide referendum for more than 30 years got underway.

But centres will be open until 10pm tonight.

People are being asked whether they want to retain the current first past the post system or switch to the alternative vote — or AV — method, which allows electors to rank candidates in order of preference.

An army of vote-counters will begin tallying the totals at Newham Leisure Centre tomorrow morning.

The borough’s referendum results are expected to be announced on Friday evening, when they will be phoned through to the national counting centre at ExCeL in the Royal Docks.