MINUTES after the county council count began on Friday morning, the hall at Stratford Leisure Centre had to be evacuated.

Confused counters and candidates looked around for guidance before leaving the building where loose ballot papers adorned rows of tables.

Stratford District Council's chief executive and acting returning officer Paul Lankester kept watch until the last person was out of the door to make sure there was no foul play and after about five minutes, the all-clear was given.

No official reason has been given for the alarm but one spokesman said it was thought to have been set off by accident by one of the contractors working on the site.

And there were dramatic scenes when Wixford's votes came to be counted after it was discovered that the key to the ballot box had been lost.

Two police officers, on duty at the count throughout the night, came to the rescue and forced their way into the box with a crowbar and the votes were duly counted.

l Right: Sgt Barry Archer and Pc Simon Bennett use their force to release Wixford's votes for the general election.

MF2005002