Boris Johnson was turned away from his local polling station when trying to vote in UK local elections after forgetting to bring an acceptable form of photo identification.

Polling station staff were forced to send the former British prime minister away after he initially failed to comply with legislation he introduced while he was in power.

Mr Johnson was attempting to cast his ballot  in South Oxfordshire for his local police and crime commissioner.

Mr Johnson introduced the Elections Act requiring photo ID in 2022 which requires people to show acceptable forms of photo ID when voting in person.

Early results suggest it has been a bruising night for the ruling Conservative Party under Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

'Truly historic'

The UK Labour Party has won control of a string of councils as results roll in from the local elections across England and Wales.

The party seized control of Rushmoor in Hampshire from the Conservatives shortly after 3am - a council the Conservatives had run for the last 24 years - with a spokesman calling the result "truly historic".

Along with a number of other gains, the opposition party has turned a Conservative majority of five into a Labour majority of 15.

Labour also took Hartlepool Council - the scene of a major by-election loss back in 2021, which led Labour leader Keir Starmer to consider quitting as leader.

A voter leaves with her dog after casting her ballot at a polling station in south London in UK local elections, 2-5-24. Image: amer ghazzal / Alamy

The party replaced the Tories as the largest party on Peterborough Council which, while remaining under no overall control, saw the Conservatives lose 13 of the 16 seats they were defending.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives lost control of North East Lincolnshire after Labour won five of the seats up for grabs - with neither party now holding a majority on the council.

All six areas overwhelmingly voted 'Leave' in the 2016 Brexit referendum.

More than 2,600 council seats across 107 councils are up for grabs in England - alongside 11 mayoral elections, a parliamentary seat and police and crime commissioners throughout England and Wales.

Early signs show Labour is winning back seats in areas it lost over the Brexit debate, as well as making gains in traditionally Conservative voting councils.

Reporting by: IRN

Main image: Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, 10-4-24. Image: Associated Press / Alamy