POSTCARDS informing 13,000 Hambleton voters they will not be going to the polls next month will drop through letterboxes next week.

As a result of two uncontested seats around 20 per cent of the district’s electorate no longer have a vote in the North Yorkshire County Council elections on May 4.

Only one candidate was nominated in two divisions - so they are elected without contest. Caroline Patmore takes the Stillington seat and Gareth Dadd the Thirsk seat.

“We have 13,000 voters in the uncontested divisions and they no longer have a vote – with 2,000 of them postal voters,” said deputy county returning officer Dr Justin Ives.

“We are informing everyone affected by post next week.”

Polling stations not being used are Bagby, Borrowby, Brandsby, Carlton Husthwaite, Carlton Miniott, Coxwold, Crayke, East Thirsk Community Hall, Huby, Husthwaite, Knayton, Linton-on-Ouse, Newton-on-Ouse, Shipton, South Kilvington, Stillington, Sutton-on-the-Forest, Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe, Thirkleby and Thirsk Friends Meeting House.