ONE in five voters in Blackburn and Darwen have already returned their ballot papers, according to the borough's returning officer.

Phil Watson said of the 100,000 postal voting packs issued 20,000 had been sent back to the town hall.

The latest figures appear to back up claims that East Lancashire has been largely unaffected by the problems the all-postal ballot has suffered in other parts of the North West.

Mr Watson has also given extra advice on when forms should be sent back. He added: "If electors are using Royal Mail, I would urge them to post ballot packs to us as soon as possible but no later than Tuesday, June 8.

"While the Post Office will do their best to get any posted after that time to me, it is safer to post earlier.

"There is also the alternative of bringing the completed packs to Blackburn or Darwen town halls right up to 10pm on Thursday June 10, but it would be a considerable help if we had them much earlier than this as the verification and counting process is quite complex.

"The whole idea of postal voting is to make it easier to vote, and I do hope residents of Blackburn with Darwen exercise their democratic rights.