IT is a strange twist that the coming European elections have managed to grip the nation.

Locally there is no less sudden interest in a poll that until this year seemed to hardly create a ripple in the British electoral waters.

Now the rise of UKIP and the offer of a referendum in the future over whether Britain should quit the European Union has placed the poll next month centre stage. All this is well and good, and this week this paper has begun its coverage of the issues to be debated here in the south for voters to choose where they will place their mark on May 20.

Anything that helps make the European elections more representative of the people is to be welcomed.

However, overshadowed by the European debate now are other, poorly supported elections. The local elections to decide who runs our local authorities will also take place on the same day.

Support for polling in local elections has fallen to all-time lows, yet they are just as vital to the lives of us all.

Yet in another strange twist, strong interest in the European ballot will also take more to the polling stations to make their mark for the town halls.