Polling day in one of the most hotly contested by-elections for decades has arrived.

As the sun rose above the communities of Copeland today, men and women, awoke with the power vested in them to make history.

For the past few weeks the constituency has been thrown into the national spotlight as seven candidates have fought it out.

A call has gone out for residents to turn out in force and show they mean business.

Hospital campaigner Siobhan Gearing wants everyone who is concerned about the future of the West Cumberland Hospital to visit their polling station.

"It's vital that people vote, if they want to save the NHS," she said. "Now is the time that we can make a difference and I am asking them to make their voices heard."

Other public figures are urging those eligible to vote to go to the polling stations and vote for their preferred candidate.

The Rev Dave Harkison, who organised a hustings event at the United Reformed Church in Whitehaven earlier this month, said: "It's important for people to go out and vote, irrespective of what party they want to vote for.

"If you don't go and vote, don't complain about the result."

Copeland's mayor, Independent Mike Starkie, said: "People fought to give everyone the right to have a vote and people should use their democratic right to have a say in shaping how the area's run.

"I would urge everybody to get out and cast their vote.

"The eyes of the country are on Copeland and I'd love to see a really big turnout. It's really important that people get engaged and use their vote."

Since Jamie Reed revealed he would be stepping down in December, Copeland has been thrust into the spotlight.

Dozens of ministers, shadow ministers and MPs have ventured up north to support their candidate's campaign – even Prime Minister Theresa May visited Bootle to show her support to Trudy Harrison.

The other candidates are – Labour's Gillian Troughton, Ukip's Fiona Mills, the Liberal Democrats' Rebecca Hanson, the Green Party's Jack Lenox and independents Michael Guest and Roy Ivinson.

When polling stations close at 10pm it should be a matter of hours before it's announced whether the Labour Party has held on to the seat or a historic victory has been recorded.

Labour has represented the constituency for more than 80 years but in the 2015 General Election, Mr Reed beat the Conservatives with a majority of just 2,564.

We'll be live all day today. Join us to keep up-to-date with all the news from the Copeland by-election.