Sedgefield is considering adopting a full postal vote for borough and parish council elections next year.

The borough council is looking at ways to increase turnout at local elections, which has been extremely low in recent years.

Postal voting has proved successful in other areas, notably Gateshead and in the recent Sedgefield mayoral referendum.

Thirty-three per cent of the electorate used their postal ballot in the referendum to decide if they wanted an elected mayor, significantly higher than at the previous borough elections. Council chief executive Norman Vaulks presented a report to the cabinet last Thursday which it is hoped will lead to a pilot scheme next May.

The postal vote option is expected to meet with opposition from some members.

If adopted, it is estimated it would cost an extra £25,000 for the council to run such a pilot scheme if all borough and parish wards are contested