IN the Bishop Auckland constituency, a pub doubled as a polling station, with the jukebox providing a fitting soundtrack to proceedings.

Europe’s The Final Countdown was playing yesterday as voters turned out to have their say at The Bridge Inn, in Ramshaw, County Durham.

Owner of the pub David Cox agreed for his pub to be used by the community after Ramshaw’s chapel, which had been used for previous elections, was sold.

Mr Cox, who refused to be drawn on who most people in the area would be voting for, said: “We have had a few extra people in for lunch and we’re hoping for a busy evening.

“People in the pub have been talking about the election for some time – there are certainly more people discussing it than in previous years.”