PEOPLE living in Ludlow and south Shropshire go to the polls today.

In some places they will be voting for town and parish councillors but everywhere there will be a chance to post a ballot for the Shropshire Unitary Council and the Police and Crime Commissioner.

Shropshire Council has been run by a Conservative administration that will hope to hold on to power.

In Ludlow three Liberal Democrats will be hoping to be returned as will be the case in Clee.

As well as strong opposition from the Conservatives, a former Ludlow town councillor and deputy mayor is hoping to be returned for Labour in Ludlow East.

The election is the first widespread test of public opinion since the general election of December 2019 before the Covid-19 pandemic.

One factor is likely to be how the virus effects turnout on the day. There will be social distancing at all polling stations and voters have been asked to take their own pens and pencils to mark their ballot papers