Hillary Clinton's Cumbrian cousin is backing her to win the US presidential race - but admits it's been an ugly campaign from both sides.

Chris Abbott, 76, found out last year that he was the third cousin of Mrs Clinton, who is the bookies' favourite to be named the next president of the United States of America.

As million of voters prepare to go to the polls, Mr Abbott, a former bank manager from Rowrah, near Whitehaven, said: "I've been following the election very closely.

"It was summed up by an American reporter on the radio, I think he now lives in this country, and his words were that he was embarrassed by the two candidates and the way they've run the election.

"I'm embarrassed the US are presenting an election which is quite important, in the way it's been conducted from both sides."

It emerged last May that the 76-year-old is one of the American political heavyweight’s third cousins.

The shock news came after research by national newspaper The Telegraph found that Mrs Clinton had unassuming relatives living in the UK.

Upon hearing of the news Mr Abbott had hoped to reach out to the would-be president, but says he has yet to do so.

"People have said to get her to come over here, but I think she's very busy," he added.

"Each candidate has goaded the other into replying the way they have.

"When I was on my travels in Europe I met some Americans who said they were disappointed in the way Obama has been treated recently, and I'm frightened that people are just trying to break away from the establishment by voting for Trump.

"But history has shown that Hillary Clinton will be the most stable for the job. I would back her. It's said by some that she hasn't been squeaky clean but the FBI has cleared her.

"Not because she's my relative, although I suppose that will have some bearing, I think that out of the two candidates standing she is better. Trump's attitude concerns me."

A whopping 120 million people are expected to cast their vote on – although the winner probably won’t be revealed until the early hours of Wednesday due to the size of the country and its six time zones.

Despite there being other candidates on the ballot paper, either Republican Trump or Democrat Clinton will almost certainly be elected the 45th President of the United States after the polls close.