SHROPSHIRE Council has laid out a guide for voters ahead of local council elections this week.

On Thursday elections will take place in the Shropshire Council area for Shropshire Council, for the county's town and parish councils and for the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner.

Polling stations will be open from 7am to 10pm.

You are required to wear a face covering while inside the polling station, unless you have a valid exemption.

Follow any signs and guidance from the polling station staff to adhere to social distancing – you may have to wait outside the polling station.

Hand sanitiser will be available on entrance and exit to the polling station and you must bring your own pen or pencil.

If you make a mistake on your ballot paper polling station staff can issue you with a replacement ballot paper.

If you need any advice, just ask the staff at the polling station – they will be happy to help you.

If you are disabled: you can ask for help and the presiding officer can mark the ballot paper for you – you can also ask someone else to help you.

If you have a visual impairment: you can ask to see a large print ballot paper or you can ask for a special voting device that allows you to vote on your own in secret.

If you have registered for a postal vote you will have received your postal voting papers.

You can return your vote by post or in person. I

f you need to return your postal vote in person, you can take it to your usual polling station, or, you can return it by hand to Shirehall in Shrewsbury.

For more information about the local elections visit shropshire.gov.uk/elections-and-electoral-registration/voting-and-elections/town-and-parish-elections-6-may-2021