People planning to vote by post in a Norfolk County Council by-election have been urged to send their papers back as soon as possible - to avoid planned strikes by Royal Mail workers.

Postal vote forms are dropping on doormats this week for the Norfolk County Council by-election in King's Lynn's Gaywood North and Central division.

The election will be held on Thursday, December 1.

But, with strikes by Royal Mail workers planned in the days leading up to the vote, West Norfolk borough council, which is handling the election count, has urged people voting by post to send votes as soon as possible.

The council has even asked people to consider handing them in at polling stations or at a council office.

Members of the Communication Workers Union (CWU) have held a series of strikes in recent weeks in a dispute over jobs, pay and conditions.

And the workers plan more strikes on Friday, November 25, Wednesday, November 30 and Thursday, December 1.

The borough council does not want people to miss out on having their votes counted.

Voters can also drop their postal vote in to any of the polling stations that will be open from 7am until 10pm on Thursday 1 December.

The polling stations are situated in the following locations:

  • King's Lynn Bowls Club, Beulah Street, Gaywood
  • Church of Jesus Christ Latter Day Saints, Reffley Lane
  • King's Lynn Masonic Centre, Hamburg Way, PE30 2ND

Postal votes can also be dropped in to West Norfolk Council's office at King’s Court, Chapel Street, King’s Lynn, PE30 1EX before 10pm on Thursday, December 1.

Votes will be counted on Friday, December 2.

Eastern Daily Press: Graham Middleton resigned as a county councillorGraham Middleton resigned as a county councillor (Image: Archant)

Candidates in the election, which was triggered by the resignation of Conservative Graham Middleton last month, are Vicky Fairweather (Green Party), Richard Johnson (Labour), David Sayers (Liberal Democrats) and Sheila Young (Conservatives).

The current political make-up at County Hall, which is controlled by the Conservative party is Conservatives 56, Labour 12, Liberal Democrats nine, Greens (three), Independents (two) and non-aligned independent (one).