Election 2015: The best weird and wonderful sights from polling day

The Internet was buzzing with the hottest trending topic of the day #DogsAtPollingStations.

Tens of thousands of voters - warned against taking election selfies in polling booths - instead put their pets in the election picture and shared their snaps online.

It led to bemusement from some international commentators, with the Los Angeles Times tweeting: “It’s election day in Britain and #dogsatpollingstations is a thing”.

The #ElectionDayPickupLines hashtag also proved popular with the innuendo machine in gear for much of the day.

The feast of eccentricity wasn’t just on the world wide web.

In places where public venues are in shorter supply, a variety of alternatives were used as polling stations.

Penny Higbee was pictured waited to greet voters at her home in Routh, East Yorkshire, which is being used as a rural polling station.

The voting action didn’t stop boxers training at East Hull Boxing Club Centre, where part of the hall was used for polling. Also in Hull, voters could pick up stamps and post a package while casting their vote at Welwyn Post Office.

Valentino’s Ristorante on Moor Road in Filey provided a novel polling station for voters feeling a bit peckish. The family-run restaurant doubled up as a polling station with anti-pasti dishes on offer to hungry voters.

Elsewhere nuns were photographed arriving to vote at a polling station at St John’s Church in Paddington, London - perhaps bringing some divine intervention.

Last year pubs, caravans and even launderettes were used for the European and local council elections, and many have been in action once again today.

David Birch was the presiding officer over a polling booth in his caravan on Grange Farm in Garthorpe, Leicestershire.

There are plenty of dos and don’ts when it comes to casting your vote. Selfies are frowned upon by the Electoral Commission but as the #DogsAtPollingStations trend demonstrated, you can take your pet along - just like Eric Preston in Doncaster did.

He was pictured walking his pet lamb Beth to Sutton village hall in Doncaster to cast his vote,

Vying for the title of Britain’s most picturesque polling station was North Cliff Golf Club in Scarborough, which overlooks Scarborough castle and the North Bay, providing a beautiful backdrop for golfers and voters who shared the club today.

In Hull, voters could get a quick trim while casting their vote at Ush Hair studio, which is being used as a polling station.

Voters in Shipley had to post votes in a ballot box in a car boot after the town’s Kirkgate Centre was locked up when polling station staff arrived this morning. The back of a car provided a temporary solution until the centre was opened up.

Voters could enjoy a pint as they cast their ballot at The Hare and Hounds, in Corsham, Wiltshire - although voting while inebriated if a definite no.

The pub has been used as a polling station since 2010 and Landlord Mark Foster, 41, is licensed to serve alcohol at the pub from 8am, an hour after voting began, but today he started serving at 11am.

“Having a polling station here makes it accessible for voters - it is an easy place to find, with a big car park,” he said.

“Of course it is always nice to stop for a drink after voting too.”

Let us know about your unusual polling venue by tweeting to @LindsayPantryYP