VOTERS across the North-East and North Yorkshire were last night urged to post their completed ballot packs for next week's Euro election by Tuesday.

The North-East and Yorkshire and Humber constituencies are two of the country's four all-postal voting regions for Thursday's European Parliamentary election.

It follows the turnout of less than 20 per cent in both regions for the last Euro poll, in 1999.

Figures already received suggest the turnout will be higher this year.

Districts are keeping a tally of returns of voting packs and last night, a spokesman at the Leeds election office for the Yorkshire and Humber region said the average was 26 per cent from the electorate of 3.74 million.

He said: "It compares very favourably to 19.60 last time, and there is still the best part of a week to go."

The Sunderland counting office for the North-East recorded 354,362 returns by last night, representing 18.5 per cent of the 1.92 million electorate.

This was despite printing problems delaying delivery of packs in some areas.

North-East returning officer Ged Fitzgerald said: "They are starting to come through in large numbers now, but our advice would still be to get your packs completed properly and posted as soon as possible."

The Royal Mail advised voters to post the packs by Tuesday to ensure delivery by the deadline of 10pm on Thursday, when the polls close.

Alternatively, late voters can take their packs to accredited help points by 10pm on Thursday. There is at least one help point in each district. The help points are shown on the advice leaflet of the ballot packs.

Staff there can also act as witnesses if voters take identification.

North-East voters have 22 candidates -three for each of seven parties and independent Neil Herron -from which to choose.

The region will return three MEPs, one less than in 1999 because of the expansion of the EU last month.

Yorkshire and Humber residents will vote from 53 candidates to return six MEPs, one less than in 1999.

* The confusion over the Euro elections continued yesterday as a four-year-old girl received a voting form.

Ellen Kilty received a voting pack even though it will be 14 years before she can vote.

Ellen, who is still attending nursery school, was sent the form by Derwentside District Council, in County Durham.

Her mother, Claire, of Blackhill, said: "I think it is ironic that a child has been sent a form considering there have been so many problems getting them delivered."

A council spokesman said Ellen has been included on the electoral register by the Kiltys.