CONDITIONS at a North-East polling station for Thursday's General Election have been criticised by disabled voters.

Bill Wade, from Bridge Street, Bishop Auckland, visited the polling station in the County Durham town's Market Place and found the building could only be accessed by walking up steps.

He said disabled voters would have not been able to get into the Wear Valley District Council building.

"The polling station was an absolute disgrace. Disabled people simply could not get in. You had to go up some steps to get into the place. It was like going into someone's back yard and the room inside was so small there was no chance to vote in privacy."

Terry Richardson, returning officer for Wear Valley District Council, said: "Most of these polling stations are private. We have no control over them - we have them for the day and we are lucky to get them.

"There's never a station where people can't vote. Even if buildings are that bad and people can't get in, any returning officer will know they can take the ballot paper to the individual."