"SHOP while you vote" is coming to Bury in a bid to bust election apathy.

Tottington residents are to pioneer supermarket voting in May's municipal poll.

For the first time in the borough, people will be able to choose their councillor while they get their groceries. It's a novel attempt by town hall bosses to improve dismal turnouts in local elections.

Those who normally cast their vote at the St Anne's Church, Tottington, will instead be redirected to the Late Shop store in Market Street on May 6.

The church is celebrating its bi-centennial and cannot be used this year as a polling station. So council leaders have decided to experiment and, if it proves popular with voters, may take the idea across the borough. Other Tottington voters should make their mark at their usual polling stations.

Councillor John Byrne, deputy leader of the council, said: "We have been looking into the possibility of altering some of our polling stations and putting them in locations which are perhaps more easily accessible to the general public. Supermarkets and the like have been considered and it will be interesting to see whether this change results in a better than normal turnout by voters. Certainly for those who want to do some shopping it will be quite handy."

Polling cards are being delivered for the elections and anyone who does not receive theirs by March 12 should contact the elections office at Bury town hall on 253 5113 as soon as possible. Anyone who requires a postal or proxy vote should do likewise before the April 20 deadline.

Coun Byrne added: "Voters who mislay their poll card between now and the election day should not worry, they do not need it when they attend the polling station. As long as their name is on the register they will be able to vote."

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