RESIDENTS who have opted to vote by post for the new West Yorkshire police and crime commissioner should return their ballot papers without delay.

More than 51,000 postal vote packs were sent out in Kirklees and 33,000 in Calderdale.

Votes must be returned ahead of polling day on Thursday.

Those with a postal vote are advised to read the instructions carefully.

For this election voters choose a first and second choice candidate, but only one of them will ultimately be chosen to be in charge of policing.

The ballot paper will list all the candidates and next to the list will be two columns. Voters should place a cross in the first-choice column and the second-choice column.

Ballot papers should be returned in the envelope provided.

However, if voters think they have missed the post they can hand votes in at their local polling station or return it to the elections office, which is at the council offices in Holmfirth for Kirklees and Halifax Town Hall for Calderdale. The deadline is 10pm on Thursday.

Those who requested a postal vote but haven’t received it yet should contact their local elections office.

In Kirklees that is via 01484 234623 or by email to electoral.registration@kirklees.gov.uk . In Calderdale ring 01422 393103 or email electoral-services@calderdale.gov.uk

People wishing to vote at polling stations should check their poll cards for information about where and when to vote. Polling stations are open from 7am to 10pm.