US election 2016: Results state by state as they happened

Donald Trump has been elected as the 45th President of the United States.

Almost 120 million Americans have cast their vote, with political outsider Mr Trump scoring a stunning victory over Hillary Clinton.

After one of the most bitterly fought campaigns in recent memory, Mrs Clinton was expected to become the nation's first female President.

But Mr Trump secured a lead at about 3am UK time on Wednesday and then saw his Presidency declared shortly after 7.30am.

His win seemed odds-on to happen when he took swing states Florida and Ohio, and by 4.30am the New York Times had him at 94 per cent on to be President.

Key swing states like Florida and Virginia, where polling stations close at midnight, were tightly contested. Many eyes were also on the "bellwether state" Ohio - which had backed the winner at every presidential contest except one since the Second World War - and it went to Mr Trump.

Other contested battlegrounds were North Carolina, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Colorado and Nevada.

Mrs Clinton was boosted by a four-point lead over Mr Trump in the final NBC/Wall Street Journal poll on Sunday, enjoying the support of 44 per cent of likely voters - compard to Mr Trump's 40 per cent.