Polling station set up in presiding officer's car

Elections staff in Moray were forced to improvise after turning up this morning to find their polling place locked up.

Presiding officer Simone Evans set up a polling station in her car outside the Royal British Legion branch in Buckie after she could not gain access to the building.

She put ‘polling station’ notices in the windows of her Ford Galaxy and, with the ballot box on the front passenger seat, cleared the rear seat so that voters could have privacy to cast their vote.

Two early voters turned out to exercise their democratic right in the back of the car before the legion’s caretaking staff turned up to open the building.

Moray’s depute returning officer, Moira Patrick, praised Mrs Evans for her quick thinking.

“She did exactly what all our elections staff are trained to do in the event of not being able to gain access to a polling place for whatever reason,” said Mrs Patrick.

“It is part of their training but as far as I can recall this is only the second time it has ever had to be put into practice.”

The reason for the building not being accessible in time for the polls opening at 7am was not immediately clear.

Moray Council area stretches from Tomintoul in the south to the shores of the Moray Firth, from Keith in the east to Forres in the west. The council and its 4,500 employees respond to the needs of 95,510 residents in this beautiful part of Scotland, which nestles between Aberdeenshire and the Highlands.

Famous for its colony of dolphins, fabulous beaches and more malt whisky distilleries than any where else in Scotland, Moray is a thriving area and a great place to live.

Headquartered in  Elgin, the administrative capital of Moray.