Voters go to the polls today in the Kent County Council election.

The battle for control of County Hall is set to be one of the most keenly contested elections for years.

More than 400 candidates are standing in the county’s 84 divisions - with results being declared tomorrow.

Polling stations opened at 7am and will remain open until 10pm tonight.

There are 15 parties who have put up candidates in Kent – with the Conservatives having the most (84), followed by Labour (83), and UKIP (74).

The Liberal Democrats will have candidates challenging for 70 seats, and the remaining partiers fielding candidates range from independents to English Democrats and the Monster Raving Loony Party.

The Conservatives took 74 of the 84 seats in 2009, with Liberal Democrats having seven and Labour two, plus one independent.

Meanwhile, the deputy leader of Kent County Council has been forced to watch the election result from his hospital bed after breaking his leg.

The ward member for Tunbridge Wells Rural told the KM he had broken a bone in the lower part of one of his legs after he slipped over on Tuesday.

Cllr Alex King underwent an operation the following day at Tunbridge Wells Hospital.

Speaking yesterday, he ruled out being at today’s count at Tunbridge Wells Sports Centre.

Cllr King declined to be drawn on whether he was expected to hold on to his seat.

Election results

The KM Group will have reporters at every count when the results are declared on Friday morning, while our political editor Paul Francis will be reporting from County Hall throughout the day as they come in.

You can keep up to date with all the results and winners and losers by following Paul on @PaulOnPolitics and by going to www.kentonline.co.uk

To join our Twitter coverage on Friday by using the hashtag #kccelection.