HAMPSHIRE goes to the polls tomorrow as Britain holds what Prime Minister Theresa May has dubbed the most important general election in her lifetime.

After weeks of listening to claim and counter-claim, voters will finally get their chance to decide which political party should run the country for the next five years.

Election issues include the future of the NHS - said to be facing the biggest financial squeeze in its 70-year history - and Brexit.

One of the key battlegrounds is Southampton Test, where Remainer Dr Alan Whitehead, who first won the seat for Labour in 1997, is facing a strong challenge from Tory Brexiteer Paul Holmes.

Mrs May and Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn have both been campaigning in the seat - an indication of its importance to the two parties.

The Prime Minister also paid a surprise visit to the Daily Echo and pledged to secure the best possible deal for Southampton in negotiations with EU leaders.

Dr Whitehead, one of the city's longest-serving politicians, has triumphed in five previous general elections. The last one was held in 2015, when he beat Tory hopeful Jeremy Moulton and ended up as the only non-Conservative MP in Hampshire.

But Dr Whitehead is defending a majority of just 3,810, making the seat winnable in the eyes of many Conservatives.

In neighbouring Southampton Itchen Simon Letts, leader of the Labour-controlled city council, is hoping to oust Tory Royston Smith, who was elected in 2015 with an even smaller majority of 2,316.

Eastleigh changed hands in the same election, with the Liberal Democrats losing the seat they had held for 20 years.

Victory went to Conservative Mims Davies, who is standing again. Rival candidates include Liberal Democrat Mike Thornton, her predecessor as MP for the area.

The two parties are also going head-to-head in Romsey and Southampton North. Tory candidate Caroline Nokes is bidding to retain the seat she first won in 2010 after ousting Lib Dem Sandra Gidley, who had represented the then Romsey constituency for ten years.

Another Tory hoping to return to Westminster is Steve Brine, who is standing in Winchester and Chandler's Ford.

Mr Brine was first elected seven years ago, when he defeated Liberal Democrat incumbent Martin Tod. This year the Lib Dems are fielding Jackie Porter, who also stood against Mr Brine in 2015.

Tory Suella Fernandes, Fareham's MP for the past two years, is defending a majority of 22,262.

Dr Julian Lewis and Sir Desmond Swayne, who have held New Forest East and New Forest West respectively since the two constituencies were created in 1997, also are bidding to retain their seats.

For full online coverage of the results visit dailyecho.co.uk throughout the night.