ELECTION: Councillor fears turnout could be 'very disappointing' tonight as apathy rules on the doorstep

Dukinfield Labour councillor Jackie Lane fears tonight's turn out will be low.

At last year's elections some wards had a turnout of just over 20 per cent, with Hyde recording both the highest and lowest figures.

Cllr Lane, who was not defending her seat tonight, said: "I think it's been a pretty low turnout, which is disappointing really.

"I don't think they realise how important it is to come out and vote.

"The young ones have been brought up today to realise just how important it is to put that cross against whoever they want to put it against.

"The turnout is a bit too low for my liking.

"I remember as a kid that my mother said 'look, listen, you go out and vote', so as soon as I was 18, my first vote was for the Common Market and my mum dragged me but said 'you make your own mind up and I don't want to know how you voted'.

"I got into politics and never knew who my mum voted for. She would say 'it's between me and my maker'. She could have been voting for me, but I never knew or not.

"It depends on how you were brought up. It was important for the working class in those days to vote. It was drummed into us as youngsters and perhaps we need to have more open discussions about it in the family circle."

Mossley Labour councillor Tafheen Sharif echoed her views. She said: "We are living in very tough times but I feel there is voter apathy on the doorstep and people are getting very disinterested in politics."