Voters in Norfolk council elections are being urged to check now that they have the right photographic identification - or risk being turned away at polling stations.

Because of controversial changes, voters will have to present photo ID at polling stations for the first time in May's local council elections, before they will be allowed to collect their ballot paper to vote.

A major publicity campaign is being launched to encourage people to ensure they are registered to vote and have the correct identification they will need.

And Trevor Holden, managing director and returning officer for Broadland and South Norfolk councils, urged people to make sure they have got appropriate identification organised as soon as possible.

He said: "What's really important is that people realise they will need to have identification and that it will need to be checked before they are given their ballot papers."

Identification which will be accepted includes passports, driving licences and older people's bus passes.

But Mr Holden said first-time voters should register as soon as possible and make sure they had suitable ID.

He said people lacking the acceptable forms of ID on the list can apply for a voter authority certificate - a free document to allow them to vote.

Applications for that will need to be made via a national online portal, but issued by local councils.

Mr Holden said: "We always see a surge in people registering to vote at the last minute and that won't work this time if people are going to need to ensure they also have the right ID.

"I'd urge people to register to vote sooner, rather than later and to check what ID they are going to need, so that - or the voter authority certificate - can be arranged in good time."

The changes, which mean Norfolk councils will have to bring in extra staff at polling stations, were introduced through provisions in the Elections Bill.

Norwich North Conservative MP Chloe Smith led the passage of that bill through Parliament during her time as minister of state for the constitution and devolution in the Cabinet Office.

The government argues it will prevent fraud, but critics do not believe the scale of the problem justifies the measure and warn it will hit turnout.

All of Norfolk's district, borough and city councils have elections on May 4.