General Election 2010: Broadcasters warned over hung parliament 'winner'

BBC, ITV and Sky have been warned off declaring a "winner" of today's election in the event of a hung parliament, amid signs of confusion among broadcasters as to how they will report the verdict of the people.

Sources at Sky confirmed that, should no one party gain a majority at the House of Commons, they will hold back from saying that anyone has "won" the election.

However, a spokeswoman for the BBC declared that "no rules" had been laid down on their own broadcast team.

Professor Robert Hazell, of the University College London's Constitution Unit, has advised all three main broadcasters ahead of the result.

He said: "We have very strenuously tried to say to them: look, hold your fire and don't call it too soon."