NORTH West Tory MEP David Sumberg has unleashed a furious attack on the Government after it emerged there were serious problems delivering ballot papers for elections in the region.

Residents should have received their ballot papers this week in time for the European, district and parish council elections on June 10.

Electors will cast their votes by post this year as part of a Government initiative to try to boost turnout in the North West.

Mr Sumberg said: 'This complete shambles is utterly disgraceful. The Government arrogantly and impetuously forced postal voting on the region - against expert advice - and is now reaping the ill wind of that misjudgement.

'We are faced with the farcical situation of vast swathes of the region not getting their ballot papers on time.'

Liberal Democrat Chester city councillor Mia Jones said: 'The exposure of an all-postal ballot to apathy is as real as it is open to fraud, gerrymandering, postal service inefficiencies and now printing delay and will do little to lift the public's confidence in an all-postal ballot.

'I urge the Government to stop fiddling. Bring back our local polling station!'

The Royal Mail had expected to deliver ballot papers this week, but a company contracted to print them failed to meet a deadline. Tony Blair has pledged to investigate the delay claims. A meeting took place on Tuesday between the Royal Mail, the Government and the printing firm to discuss the situation.

Cheshire and Preston are likely to be affected and it is feared the difficulties could also be felt in the North East and East Midlands.

Chester City Council says ballot papers will be issued on June 1. Any elector who does not receive them by end of June 2 should call their electoral team on 01244 402142 or e-mail elreg@chester.gov.uk as soon as possible.

Completed ballot papers must reach the Chester Town Hall by 10pm on Thursday, June 10. If preferred, residents can deliver their papers in person at the following times:

From 10am-5pm from Tuesday, June 1, to Friday, June 4.

From 10am-2pm on Saturday, June 5.

From 10am-5pm from Monday, June 7, to Wednesday, June 9.

From 7am-10pm on Thursday, June 10.

Not everyone will receive district and parish papers, as there are no city council or parish council elections in some parts of the district.

Christine Lawley, deputy returning officer for Chester district, said: 'The European ballot papers will be white, the district papers grey and the parish papers lilac.

'Due to the very tight deadlines for these elections, printers had to anticipate for a larger number of candidates than turned out to be the case. Quite simply, it was a question of better safe than sorry.'