More than 3,000 completed voting papers were returned yesterday, one of the largest numbers in one day so far in the local body elections.

But that has done little to turn around a record low return.

The total of 13,000 voting papers returned means just 15% of residents have voted so far.

That compares with 24% at the same time in 2010.

Voting figures have slumped to around 50% in the last decade, and look set to be well below that figure this year.

Voting closes in just nine days.