WYRE Forest’s returning officer for today’s police and crime commissioner elections says the turnout could struggle to reach 15 per cent.

On twitter, Ian Miller wrote: “Risky to make predictions on limited evidence. My guess is turnout will struggle to reach 15 per cent overall - we’ll see tonight!”.

Polls are open across the district until 10pm for voters to choose between Labour’s Dr Simon Murphy, Conservative Adrian Blackshaw and Independent Bill Longmore for the position in West Mercia and a result is expected tomorrow.

Mr Miller also tweeted this morning: “Slow voting at most polling stations in @WyreForestDC - barely one per cent at some after four hours of voting”.

At 9.45am he revealed one Wyre Forest polling station still had not seen a voter since it opened at 7am.

He also added: “Looks like well under 50 per cent of postal votes will be returned, compared to about 70 per cent in May @WyreForestDC”.

In reply to the estimated figures, Liberal councillor Fran Oborski, tweeted: “It just proves that the public does not was this Election! The winner will not have any real mandate!”

Throughout the police and crime commissioner elections, there have been widespread fears that the turnout could be low.