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

Electors 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 recent North-East Assembly referendum.

While the scheme increased participation, concerns were raised about security and possible fraud, although none centred on this region.

The county council's deputy chief executive, Andrew North, told councillors that two-thirds of voters found postal voting more convenient. He said the council could apply to hold an all-postal ballot, but thought that such an application "would not be particularly favourably received".

Labour council leader Ken Manton was concerned about the timetable, and a General Election, and recommended not holding an all-postal ballot.

Liberal Democrat leader Nigel Martin said a significant number of people wanted to cast their vote in the traditional way, at a polling station, but said "giving people an option is good".

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