WORCESTER'S MP Mike Foster has urged residents to go to the polls tomorrow and cast their vote.

He made his plea as candidates and activists of all political persuasions made their last rounds of the wards, dropping leaflets and a talking to voters, in the final countdown to the local council elections.

"As a Labour MP it goes without saying that I want people to support Labour candidates. However, as important is that people should vote, full stop," he said.

"In this country people have lost their lives to gain the right to vote and it is incumbent upon us all, regardless of our party affiliation, to use the opportunity to cast our vote once a year.

"That is the price of freedom and democracy and is not a heavy price to pay."

Worcester City Council's electoral services officer Richard Dear also urged people to make their mark.

"If you feel that your voice should be heard, go out there and vote for the candidate that most closely represents your aims and wishes for Worcester," he said.

Last year, 21,913 electors in Worcester cast their vote - less than one in three of the total 71,792 qualified to vote in the city.

The 30.94 per cent turnout put the city below the national average of 35 per cent.

This year, about 4,500 voters in Worcester have marked their cross before a polling booth has even opened - they chose to shape the future of the council by post.

Postal votes in Worcester City have increased by more than 50 per cent on last year.

Mr Dear said that, following the Government's 2001 initiative to relax the rules governing votes by post, more and more people had taken up the opportunity.

"It's an easy way of voting," he said. "I'm not surprised that the number of people choosing a postal vote is growing, though the scale of the increase this year has been greater than we expected."

Seats are up for grabs on Worcester City Council, Wychavon District Council, Malvern Hills District Council, Wyre Forest District Council and Herefordshire Council.

Polling stations across Worcestershire and Herefordshire will be open from 8am to 9pm tomorrow.