WORCESTER MP Mike Foster is calling for the city council to switch to postal voting for future elections.

The Labour MP said he had written to council chief executive David Wareing

to ask for the change to put in place by next year - when every seat in the city is up for grabs.

He believes it would significantly boost voter turnout.

Mr Foster pointed to the success of a series of pilot schemes carried out in other parts of the country.

Council wards that were decided by postal vote alone saw turnout boosted by an average of 28 per cent.

"The clear evidence is that postal voting leads to doubling or more than doubling of the vote," said Mr Foster.

"Although the turnout in Worcester was a slight improvement on two years ago, it was still not large enough.

"Next year the whole council is going to be elected and it is important that we have as many people as possible taking part in that process.

"We must take up the challenge and be one of the first to switch to postal votes. I do not want Worcester to be left bringing up the rear on this."

The Conservatives effectively gained overall control of Worcester City Council in Thursday's elections as they snatched three seats from Labour.

It means that the Conservatives now hold half the council's seats.

The new mayor will have the casting vote when elected later this month - and is likely to be Conservative.