VOTES were today being counted for the local elections in the New Forest, Test Valley and Winchester.

The councils for the first time put back overnight counts because of the new rules to combat fraud.

Election chiefs said a law which requires postal votes are checked has created a logistical nightmare that meant a count was too tricky last night.

The returned postal voting statements were being received up until the polls closed at 10pm but had to be verified before they were counted.

The councils wee using untested technology to scan signatures and dates of birth against application forms.

The councils also had to collect and count ballots from dispersed parish and town council elections.

All 48 seats in Test Valley and all but one of the 60 seats in the Forest were up for grabs.

Nineteen seats, on third of the total, in Winchester were being contested.

All three councils were Tory held going into the count today.

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