Villagers to cast votes in five ballots

Polling stations in one small village were busy yesterday as electors voted in five separate ballots.

As well as the national voting reform referendum, the people of Stokesby, Norfolk, must choose parish councillors and borough councillors, take part in a county council by-election and help decide whether Great Yarmouth should have an elected mayor.

Different coloured papers have been produced for each poll to avoid confusion between the multiple votes – the most in one single area – and there will be one single ballot box for them all to go in.

There are at least 12 areas where four different contests are being held on the same day – the most prominent among them being Leicester South.

Voters will be asked to choose a new MP, a mayor and city councillors as well as taking part in the AV referendum.