THE returning officer for the General Election in Wyre Forest has paid tribute to staff who ensured the count ran smoothly under "intensive" circumstances.

Wyre Forest District Council chief executive Walter Delin told the Shuttle/Times & News nine extra ballot boxes had been shipped out to polling stations, mainly in Kidderminster, as the district recorded one of the highest turnouts in the country.

"We had reports of queues being formed at certain polling booths," he said.

"It was a very intensive run-up to the election and an intensive night for the election staff."

But Mr Delin added: "It all went smoothly and we were able to declare the result within the anticipated time."

Seventy-one polling stations were set up across the district, with the largest at Spennells Commun-ity Centre, with 2,031 registered voters, and the smallest at Upper Arley with 147.

Presiding officers and poll clerks totalled 171, with 88 counting assistants counting votes for the national and county elections, watched over by 11 supervisors at the Wyre Forest Glades Arena. A total of 75,849 people were registered to vote.

Mr Delin extended a "big thank-you to all the staff that were involved in the run-up to the election and on the day".