IAN CLARKE Council officials apologised to people who turned up to vote today only to discover there was no election in their villages.Eight wards in Breckland Council area were not contested as there was only one candidate in each.

IAN CLARKE

Council officials apologised to people who turned up to vote today only to discover there was no election in their villages.

Eight wards in Breckland Council area were not contested as there was only one candidate in each.

Polling cards had been sent out to voters in the areas before nominations closed last month and posters were due to have been put out in the villages and the halls which would have been used for polling stations to alert people.

But at Necton, Little Cressingham, Saham Toney and Bradenham the halls did not have any notification and confused voters arrived to find the buildings locked up.

Most complaints were made from Necton.

Villager David Butler said: “The doors were shut and there was nothing to say there was no election. While I was there about eight or 10 others turned up as well and none of us knew what was going on. What is the point of sending out polling cards if there is no election?”

Breckland spokesman Amanda McCulloch apologised to people for inconvenience and said the contractor responsible for delivering boxes and putting out posters said they had been taken to the relevant areas.

“We will take the views on board of everyone who has contacted us and bear them in mind for the next election.”

Replacement posters were taken to the four polling stations once the problem was discovered.