Deadline looms to register for next month's elections

As well as local council elections, Northumbria Police and Crime Commissioner Vera Baird will face three challengers for her position.

The vote will take place on May 5 alongside elections for South Tyneside Council.

Mrs Bair, representing Labour, will face challenges from Stewart Hay, for Conservative Party; Melanie Hurst, representing UKIP, and Liveral Democrat candidate Jonathan Wallace.

There are more than one million registered electors in the Northumbria Police Area, including more than 300,000 postal voters.

The result will be announced in Sunderland on Friday, May 6.

Anyone who has not yet registered to vote should contact their council’s Electoral Services team.

People can also apply online at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote.

The deadline to register to vote for the May elections is Monday, April 18.