Castle Point's voters go to the polls a week today - in one of the most closely monitored and keenly-fought contests in the region.

BBC and ITV news have both shown interest in covering the May 6 borough elections - and especially the count at Canvey's Waterside Farm sports centre.

Newsroom South East and London Tonight programmes should be there for the final reckoning - alongsideThis Is Essex's reporting team.

John Reilly, the council's electoral registration officer, said the broadcasters seemed very serious about covering the event.

"They are asking for all the background information and percentages," he added. It would seem they think Castle Point is the one to watch this year. Attention like this does help to put the borough on the map."

Four years ago, Castle Point saw one of the biggest swings in the country, with Labour dramatically ending 22 years of Conservative control.

Going into the 1994 election the party held just four seats to the Tories' 35.

By the end of election night night the party had 34 seats and the Conservatives just five.

The current make-up of the council is Labour, 32; Conservative 5; two seats vacant. The council is hoping for a high turnout this year and has been raising awareness through a poster campaign.

Mr Reilly said there had been an increase in the number of absent votes on previous years but admitted it was hard to predict how many would take part.

He said: "It is very difficult to tell until the actual day. There has been a reasonable number of inquiries about the election, but I would not say it was any higher number than in past elections."

There will be 37 polling stations across the borough for the elections to allow voters to have their say over the 39 seats up for grabs.

Conservative and Labour are contesting every ward, while the Green party has put up three candidates.

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