EARLY morning voters in Shipley had to post their votes in a ballot box in a car boot after a mix-up led to the Kirkgate Centre being locked when polling station staff arrived.

Centre manager Paul Barrett said a combination of illness and a missing mobile phone led to a communication breakdown meaning a member of staff was not on site ahead of the intended 7am opening.

Polling station staff elected to open the polling booths outside the centre instead, using the boot of their cars, to allow voters to make their mark.

Mr Barrett told the Telegraph & Argus that the mix-up meant the impromptu polling booth was set up outside on Kirkgate for about an hour.

"I got a knock on the door while I was eating my breakfast so went down with the keys to open up," he said.

"The polling booth staff had done amazingly well and had set up their gear in their cars parked outside to allow people to vote. As it was sunny people voting didn't seem to mind."

Voter Paul Wadsworth contacted the T&A on Twitter to say: "Polling station staff had improvised well. Mark vote in one boot and then put in ballot box in another."

According to Electoral Commission guidance if staff cannot gain access to the building where the polling station is to be set up, they should set up a temporary polling station if necessary.

"There may be sufficient space at the entrance to the building, or even outside it. In some cases, presiding officers have used the back of a car," it advises.

"Whatever the situation, voters must be able to vote in secret from 7am onwards."