WITH voting under way in the general election, News Shopper rounds up the main candidates in the local constituencies.

Polling stations across Bromley, Bexley, Lewisham, Greenwich and north Kent opened their doors at 7am and will close at 10pm before the votes are taken to the counting centres.

Several of our local MPs have stepped down and there might be surprise results in some constituencies, which means it could be all-change on the political scene.

Follow our live up-to-the-minute election coverage here at newsshopper.co.uk, and also follow us via our Twitter feed @NewsShopper which we’ll be tweeting on during the night.

Here is how things look in the local areas at the moment:

Bromley

The constituencies of Bromley & Chislehurst, Orpington and Beckenham will be counted at Bromley Civic Centre in Stockwell Close, Bromley.

The Conservative Party's Bob Neill is standing once again in Bromley and Chislehurst but faces a tough battle with LibDem candidate Sam Webber.

Conservative John Horam is standing down in Orpington and is replaced by the Mayor of London's brother Jo Johnson. He faces a close scrap with LibDem David McBride.

Meanwhile Tory Jacqui Lait is also retiring with experts predicting replacement candidate Bob Stewart to hold on easily in Beckenham.

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Bexley

Counting in Bexley will take place at Crook Log Sports Centre in Brampton Road, Bexleyheath.

Conservatives in Old Bexley & Sidcup are no longer represented by disgraced former MP Derek Conway.

They are now relying on James Brokenshire to take the seat. Only a massive swing towards Labour would stop him from swooping into the House of Commons.

John Austin is standing down in Erith and Thamesmead leaving Teresa Pearce to pick up the Labour baton. A huge swing is needed to snatch this seat from the reds.

Meanwhile Bexleyheath & Crayford MP David Evennett is expected to hold on for the Tories.

Greenwich

The London Soccerdome in Greenwich Peninsula will play host to vote counters in Greenwich.

This traditionally safe Labour borough could signal a disaster for Gordon Brown if Nick Raynsford and Clive Efford are de-throned in Greenwich & Woolwich and Eltham.

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Lewisham

Sedgehill School in Bellingham is the venue for the Lewisham counts.

In Lewisham Deptford the Green candidate Darren Johnson is bidding to become his party's first ever MP.

Labour's Joan Ruddock won with a huge majority last time around but could face a more stern test this evening.

Boundary changes should favour the Tories and LibDems in Lewisham West and Penge, but current MP Jim Dowd expects to hold on for Labour.

Meanwhile in Lewisham East, current deputy mayor of Lewisham Heidi Alexander is bidding to win a seat in parliament after Labour colleague Bridget Prentice annoucned her retirement.

Dartford

All eyes will be fixed on Dartford's Acacia Hall in this key marginal. John Adams is replacing Labour's retiring Dr Howard Stoate and takes on Conservative Gareth Johnson and James Willis of the LibDems.

Dartford has voted in the general election's winning party every time since 1964.

Gravesham

Again, Gravesham is a key bellweather seat and has a habit of voting in the election's winner.

Votes will be counted at the Civic Centre in Woodville Halls, Gravesend, where Conservative Adam Holloway hopes to fend off the challenge of Labour's Kathryn Smith.

Sevenoaks

Votes will be counted in Sevenoaks Leisure Centre and only a minor miracle would see Conservative Michael Fallon lose his seat.