ACTION is being taken after a disabled voter complained he could not access a polling station.

The man, who has not been named, was unable to get into West Tanfield's polling station.

Hambleton District Council, which oversees elections in the area, has pledged to make sure it does not happen again.

Martyn Richards, the council's head of legal and democratic services, says: "One man had a problem at a polling station.

"He was unable to gain access because of his disability and we have checked it and written to apologise.

"As a council, we have got some money set aside to do work at polling stations so this should not be an issue again."

He added that a shortage of suitable buildings in some rural areas caused problems in ensuring disabled access.

In some cases, Mr Richards stated, a ramp could be put down to ease disabled access up stairs.

It was council policy to help disabled people, and in some instances, ballot papers could be taken outside and filled in.

Vale of York MP Anne McIntosh raised the issue of disabled access in the Commons last month.

"We have to be as accessible as we can with public buildings but in a rural area you can't expect every building used to be disabled accessible," she said.

But she added: "The constituent who couldn't get in did not make himself known as his ballot papers could have been brought out. Or he could have had a postal vote."