Sunderland great-grandmother, 90, steps out to cast her vote in General Election

Ninety-year-old Caroline Smithson went with her daughter Trish to their local polling station in Red House to exercise her democratic right to vote.

Despite her age, the grandma-of-seven wanted to mark her ballot in person on Thursday, December 12 instead of posting it off.

She also posed for a photograph outside St Cuthbert’s Church on Thursday.

Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm.

Trish added: “She thought it was so important to vote in this election – sometimes I haven’t bothered myself but this year I thought it was so important.”

We will be bringing you live coverage throughout Thursday and Friday, December 13 as the results come in from the General Election.

Click here to find out how you can follow us through the night on our blog.