RESIDENTS in Harrow and Brent are heading to the polls today for what is billed as the most important General Election for a generation.

In the early hours of tomorrow morning, it will be announced whether Labour's Tony McNulty, Gareth Thomas, and Barry Gardiner have held on to their Parliamentary seats or been booted out of power.

The trio were all elected in 1997 as New Labour swept into power, and rose to respective positions in the government under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, but are now facing their strongest challenge so far from the revitalised Tories under David Cameron and Lib Dems hoping to capitalise on the Nick Clegg-led surge in the polls.

Polling stations are opening now at schools, community centres, and churches across Brent and Harrow, and the votes will be counted from 10pm tonight.

All the candidates have stressed the importance of this election at public debates, where they have faced questions on issues including health, crime, education, immigration, and MP expenses.

Amid General Election fever, it is easy to forget the council elections are also taking place today.

In Harrow, the Conservatives are relying on their record in power to try to hold on to their majority, while Labour aims to use dissatisfaction with the administration to boost its number of seats.

The United Kingdom Independence Party, the Liberal Democrats, the Green Party, the Christian Peoples Alliance, and several independent candidates have entered the race for Harrow Council, hoping to shake-up the current two-party domination.

In Brent, it is a three-way battle between Lib Dems, Tories, and Labour for control of the council.

Depending on who is successful, today's election could signal the end of the Lib Dem-Tory coalition which has run the council for the last four years.

However, regardless of who you vote for, the Harrow Times urges you to get to the polling station and make sure your voice is heard.