THE all postal vote in Herefordshire is being hailed a success.

Herefordshire Council said yesterday morning that it may have even set a record for turn-out after receiving 70,248 votes.

That equates to a voter turn-out of 55.7 per cent and the council was still expecting a late flurry before the deadline at 5pm yesterday.

In a bid to encourage last minute votes, the council set up collection points at St Katherine's in Ledbury and Rowberry Street in Bromyard.

In 2000, when the council relied on traditional polling stations, the turn-out was 38 per cent, although in Frome and Hope End wards, the figure reached 47 per cent and 46 per cent.

The results of yesterday's elections can be found at www.ThisisMalvern.co.uk from 10am. Votes for parish elections in Bredenbury, Cradley, Stanford Bishop, Tedstone Delamere and Whitbourne are being counted this morning and the website will be updated as results become available.