The passionate, unpredictable – and often bizarre 2016 US presidential election is coming to an end, with both Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump embarking on their final day of a furious campaign before the polling stations open on 8 November.

Hillary Clinton, Arizona
US election 2016

In what has become one of the most the most wagered-upon political events in history, opinion polls have reached record numbers of bettors who are pouring millions into online platforms from Ireland to Iowa, in the hope of capturing a financial windfall from a victory by Democrat Hillary Clinton or Republican Donald Trump. Either way, it is expected to be a tight race to the White House – and so, from plagiarised speeches to crying delegates, the obscene statues and the ridiculous merchandise, IBTimesUK presents some of the best pictures from the lead up to the 2016 presidential election: