THE votes of 92 people have been wasted after a printing error.

Wychavon District Council say voters at a polling station in Droitwich South West ward received the ballot papers for a neighbouring ward.

The error was not discovered until 11am yesterday, by which time 142 ballots had already been cast.

A council spokesman said the right ward had been printed on the reverse of the ballots, but the candidate list was for Droitwich South East.

Council personnel desperately called up the 142 people affected, or knocked on doors and 50 of them returned to polling booths to re-cast a correct ballot.

But 92 people were either unable to be contacted, were unable to vote or chose not to vote again.

A council spokesman said it was "unfortunate".

"We deeply regret this error and once we spotted the error we took all possible steps to notify the affected voters."

The candidates in Droitwich South West have been told about the blunder.

Meanwhile, the percentage turnout for the district was 39.36 per cent.