DURHAM County Council has ruled out holding an all-postal vote at next year's elections.

Electors in the county will vote for councillors in May, possibly at the same time as a General Election.

All-postal voting was tried in the European and local elections in June in the North-East, North-West, Yorkshire and Humberside and East Midlands and in the North-East Assembly referendum.

While the scheme increased participation, concerns were raised about security and possible fraud in some of the areas where it was tried, although the Electoral Commission report into the pilot said that none centred on the North-East.

The county council's deputy chief executive Andrew North told councillors that two-thirds of voters were satisfied with postal voting, finding it more convenient.

He said the council could apply to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister to hold an all-postal ballot

But he added: "Given the background of this report, I think such an application, if we made it, would not be particularly favourably received."

Labour council leader Ken Manton said the timescale for an application was tight and there was a distinct possibility there would also be a General Election.

"I am recommending that we do not go forward for a pilot for next year's county council elections," he said.

Liberal Democrat leader Nigel Martin said a significant number of people still wanted to cast their vote in the traditional way at a polling station.

"I'm not convinced of the propriety of all-postal ballots, but giving people an option is good."

He said there had been problems in the referendum vote with students not getting their papers because they had moved house and that there were security issues with all-postal votes.

Independent leader John Shuttleworth said: "Postal voting is open to all sorts of corruption. People have a right to go to the ballot box."