CONCERNS have been raised about a plan to hold an all-postal ballot.

The move is being considered by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council in an attempt to boost poor voting figures for council elections.

The Labour-run authority, the most marginal of all four Cleveland councils, will hold an election in May.

The authority is considering applying to the Government for cash for an all-postal poll after turnouts increased at pilot schemes in elections at Gateshead and North Tyneside, earlier this year.

However, the Liberal Democrat group on the council and the Independents have both argued an all-postal ballot could result in fraud. Councillors on Guisborough Town Council expressed similar concerns at a meeting last week.

Steve Kay, leader of the Independents group, said: "Without the privacy of the polling booth, we are in danger of returning to the day when local power, patronage and influence can decide, not only how individuals vote, but the result of elections themselves."

David Walsh, leader of the council, said safeguards would be put in place. The 37 per cent turn-out in east Cleveland at the last council election was the highest turn-out in Cleveland.