A MAN says he was denied his right to vote in the Hampshire County Council elections on May 2 because his polling station closed early.

Martin Millam, 44, claims polling officers shut the station at Froyle Village Hall by 9.40pm, when he arrived. By law all polling stations have to be open to the public 7am to 10pm. Mr Millam, who lives in the village and has voted since the age of 18, says when he arrived at the village hall there were two cars parked outside but the hall was in semi-darkness. There were, he claims, no polling station notices up and, when he tried the main doors, they were locked. He rattled the doors but, while he believes there may have been people inside, no one came to open them, so he left. He did not try the side door.

For full story, see this week's Alton Herald.