Mary HamiltonA steady trickle of early voters flowed into the polling station at the Maid's Head this morning after polls opened at 7am, with about 20 Norwich South voters through the doors before 8am.Mary Hamilton

A steady trickle of early voters flowed into the polling station at the Maid's Head this morning after polls opened at 7am, with about 20 Norwich South voters through the doors before 8am.

Dr Annie Grant, dean of students at the University of East Anglia, voted Labour in support of Charles Clarke.

She said: 'I think Charles Clarke is a good constituency MP, and the thought of having David Cameron in power makes my toes curl.

'This time I did have some thought about it as a lifelong Labour voter. I think they have done a very good job but a very bad job of promoting their achievements.'

Her partner Graeme Barker, who voted Lib Dem, said: 'I have a lot of time for Charles Clarke and I think in many ways he has done a good job but I do not forgive him for his collusion in the Iraq war.

'He was one of a succession of extremely right wing home secretaries who acted as though he was afraid of the Daily Mail.'

Beatrice Leal, of nearby Wensum Street, dropped in to vote before going to catch a train to work.

The 26-year-old art history student said: 'I voted Green, because they are campaigning against tuition fees, but most of all because they are against cuts. They are the one party who are not about to take away all our public services.'

Green city councillor Peter Offord and Conservative party member Jake Smyth were also out early at the Maid's Head to speak to voters.