• For details on the candidates, click here.
  • To catch up on yesterday's live Q&A session, click here.

TODAY is D-Day for West Mercia Police – with voters across the region heading to the polls to elect the force’s first police and crime commissioner.

Conservative Adrian Blackshaw, Labour’s Simon Murphy and independent candidate Bill Longmore are all vying for the £75,000-a-year role.

The winner will be in control of a £200 million budget across West Mercia and will be responsible for drawing up policing priorities, as well as hiring or firing the chief constable.

The polls opened at 7am today and voters have until 10pm to have a say.

People will be voting for West Mercia’s candidates across Worcestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin.

In Worcester, where 76,349 people are eligible to take part, there will be 65 polling stations, including village halls, schools, community centres, churches and even the Swan Theatre.

But the number of people turning out to vote is expected to be as low as 20 per cent. Bookmakers Ladbrokes will pay out with odds of 5/6 to those who predict correctly whether the election turnout is higher or lower.

In comparison, Worcester had a turnout of 67.51 per cent for the general election in 2010.

Amid fears of a low turnout, returning officers are appealing for residents to get out and have a say.

Duncan Sharkey, managing director of Worcester City Council and one returning officer, said: “It is very important to use your democratic right to vote – I would urge everyone to go have their say.”

The count will take place from 10.30am at Shropshire Council’s Shrewsbury HQ tomorrow.

A result is expected tomorrow afternoon, and will appear on worcesternews.co.uk. Saturday’s Worcester News will then carry reaction and the full story of your new police and crime commissioner.

  • For details on the candidates, click here.
  • To catch up on yesterday's live Q&A session, click here.