'Voters will be turned away without ID'

Anna Earnshaw, the returning officer in West Northamptonshire, said people without ID would not be able to vote

A returning officer has issued a stark warning to voters ahead of the general election.

Anna Earnshaw, who will be officiating in West Northamptonshire, said anyone who did not bring identification to a polling station would be turned away.

It will be the second time that voters in the county will be required to bring proof of identity to cast their ballot.

Ms Earnshaw said about 1600 staff would be involved in the process of collecting and counting the votes in West Northamptonshire.

The Elections Act 2022 introduced a requirement of voter ID at polling stations for the first time.

The system made its Northamptonshire debut at this year's Police Fire and Crime Commissioner poll.

Acceptable forms of ID include passports, driving licences and some bus passes

Ms Earnshaw, the chief executive of West Northamptonshire Council, will be acting as returning officer for four of the county's constituencies.

She said: "It's really important that people take their ID because you will be turned away or asked to go and get some if you haven't brought it with you."

She added that the council website contains a list of acceptable forms of ID, such as passports, driving licences and blue badges.

For the first time in a general election, votes for the seven parliamentary constituencies in Northamptonshire will be counted at just two venues.

Kings Park Tennis Centre in Northampton will be the venue for Northampton North and South - as well as Daventry and South Northamptonshire.

The three constituencies of Wellingborough, Kettering and Corby and East Northamptonshire will be counted at Kettering Leisure Village.

Election counts usually involve long periods of waiting for something to happen

Ms Earnshaw said: "Having [the West Northamptonshire count) in one place makes it easier and, if we get a situation where one team finishes one seat and we declare an MP, we can redeploy the staff to start counting on another seat".

The final result is expected at 06:00 BST, unless a recount is requested.