Photo: Reuters

Polls have opened in a historic referendum on whether the UK should remain a member of the European Union or leave, the BBC reports.

An estimated 46,499,537 people are entitled to take part in the vote – a record number for a UK poll.

Polling stations opened at 07:00 BST and will close at 22:00 BST.

It is only the third nationwide referendum in UK history and comes after a four-month battle for votes between the Leave and Remain campaigns.