PARISH priest Father Martin Dowd did not have far to go to cast his vote today.

The presbytery of St Charles Borromeo RC Church in St Charles Road, Rishton, was being used as a polling station for the Hyndburn Council election.

Voters across East Lancashire were today going to the polls to have their say in local elections which could dramatically alter the political landscape of the area.

Polling day began with a final appeal for people to cast their vote in a bid to prevent the elections being marred by low turnouts.

In Burnley, the eyes of the nation were on voters as Britain waited to see if any one of the 13 BNP candidates would be voted into the town hall.

All-out elections are also being held in Hyndburn, Rossendale and Pendle.

In Chorley, all voters have had to use postal votes this year under an initiative designed to boost turnout.

By this morning, more than half of all people registered to vote had returned their ballot papers -- up on an average of 30per cent at the last local elections.

In Blackburn with Darwen, a massive publicity drive has been held to attract more voters. If more than 40 per cent vote, the council will receive a £286,000 bonus from the Government.

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