ERRORS have occurred on some of the postal ballot papers for next week's by-election in Chester-le-Street.

The printing mistake means that, when posted, the electors' addresses appear on the outside of the ballot paper instead of the inside.

The papers for the Chester North Ward by-election, caused by the death of Councillor Keith Lambert, have already been sent out to be returned by Thursday, October 2. Chester-le-Street District Council is writing to residents to notify them of the error. A council spokesman said: "It's a printing error, it has only occurred on some of the papers, but we want people to vote and not turn a blind eye and chuck the ballot paper away.

"Obviously we want to people to feel their votes are confidential. We've had about three or four papers brought to our attention, but there might be more. But this isn't a total misprint for all of the ballot papers."

Anyone with a voting card containing the mistake should ring the council on the freephone number 0800 0929 740.

The faulty ballot paper must be returned before a new one will be issued, so electors cannot vote twice.

The by-election is being contested by Beatrice Bainbridge (Conservative), Paul Ellis (Labour), George Gardner (Lib Dem) and Scott Morrison (BNP).