Polls close in Germany’s unpredictable election

Exit polls showing neck-and-neck race between Merkel’s Christian Democrats and rival Social Democrats.

Polls in Germany have closed in one of the most unpredictable elections in its recent history, with Angela Merkel’s conservatives and the centre-left Social Democrats in a tight race for her crown as she prepares to leave the political stage.

Tens of millions of voters headed to polling stations on Sunday to determine the country’s next government and the chancellor who will lead it.

Voting ended at 16:00 GMT with exit polls showing neck-and-neck race between Merkel’s Christian Democrats and rival Social Democrats.