Today will see if Vince Cable is able to fend off stiff competition and keep hold of a Twickenham seat that has been yellow since 1997, and whether Conservative Zac Goldsmith can continue his reign in Richmond Park.

After months of arduous campaigning voters are heading to the polls as candidates wait with bated breath to see if their hard work has paid off.

Dr Cable, MP for Twickenham for 18 years and Business Secretary since 2010, could be facing his toughest test since he was first elected with Conservative Dr Tania Mathias, Labour’s Nick Grant, the Green Party’s Tanya Williams and UKIP’s Barry Edwards all hoping to eat into or overturn the 71-year-old’s majority.

To read all our election coverage including all our candidate profiles visit www.richmondandtwickenhamtimes.co.uk/generalelection2015

Christian Party candidate Dominic Stockford and Magna Carta Party’s David Dean Wedgwood will also hope to make an impact in what should be an exciting election.

In the Richmond Park constituency Zac Goldsmith, elected in 2010, will hope to increase his majority but Liberal Democrat challenger Robin Meltzer, Labour’s Sachin Patel, the Green’s Andree Frieze and UKIP candidate Sam Naz could disrupt the evening for the Conservatives.

Richmond and Twickenham Times:

Polling day: Excitement is building, have you cast your vote?

A mother and doctor, who did not want to be named, from Teddington said: “I always vote because I feel very firmly about the democratic process.

“I have brought my daughter along with me to demonstrate how important voting is.”

Roy Norwood, 70, has lived in Teddington since 1984. He said: “I always vote and I always vote for the same party.”

Donna Herdman, 48, from Teddington said: “I have no idea who I am going to vote for.

“It will either be the Liberal Democrats or the Conservatives but I will decide when I am standing at the box.

“I like some of what Tania Mathias says but don’t like that she is against Heathrow expansion.”

First-time voter Callum Woolf, 18, from Teddington, said: “I think round here they have done a good job and cannot see any reason for change in Twickenham.

“I am not a huge fan of the Conservative government and would vote Labour but they are not strong here.”

Nick Bardswell, 73, a semi-retired solicitor from Richmond said: “I have voted for three parties in my life but I am probably dedicated to one now.

“Zac Goldsmith has done a wonderful job in Richmond and most people will probably vote for him.”

Dan, who lives in Richmond, said: “I am Australian and work in the banking industry, this is my first vote in the UK general election.

“I vote for the party who is most in line with the Liberals in Australia, which is the Conservatives.”

Colin Bergamin, a 52-year-old chauffeur from Richmond said: “I have changed my vote in this election.

“I have voted based on how the parties have performed in the last five years.”

Polls are open from 7am to 10pm and results will start to come in early on Friday morning. Twickenham is expected to declare at about 4am, as is Richmond Park. 

We will be covering the count blow by blow, so visit this website to see how the people have voted.