ELECTION officials are working flat out to ensure 600 first time voters wiped off computer records are still able to vote.

A computer error at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council means voters whose 18th birthday falls between November 30, 2002 and polling day, May 1, 2003 have not been sent postal ballot papers.

But returning officer and chief executive Colin Moore said urgent action is being taken to hand-deliver the papers.

He said: "This is a situation which we obviously sincerely regret. As soon as the issue was identified a few hours ago we began an urgent investigation and discovered these voters have not been included in the general list of voters. Thankfully we are in a position to ensure that we can put matters right and that they will all have plenty of time to cast their vote."

Mr Moore added that about 12 people had been incorrectly sent proxy voting papers to cast votes on behalf of other people. This was a result of human error and was being corrected.

The authority is urging all voters to study their ballot papers because many people have the chance to vote in both borough and parish council elections.

Mr Moore said: "There are parish councils in quite a large part of our borough, which means that in those areas people will have received papers to allow them to cast their votes for both types of authority.

"We would be very grateful if people would ensure that they check carefully the ballot papers they receive and remember that they need to have them in the post by April 30 at the very latest."