Thurrock Council has warned voters there are only five days left to register to vote in the general election if they haven't done so already.

Electors have until April 20 to register to vote, but after that, it will be too late.

Applications to register to vote must reach the council’s electoral registration officer by midnight on April 20.

Those who have already registered should have received a poll card – these cards are not needed to vote. Cards also have details of the polling station voters must attend.

How to register

To apply to register, people must have their National Insurance number and date of birth. If you do not have a National Insurance number you will need to provide an alternative form of evidence.

Register at www.gov.uk/register-to-vote, by telephone on 01375 652816 or application forms can be requested by email to electoral.services@thurrock.gov.uk Applications to vote by post must reach the electoral registration officer at the council by 5pm on 21 April. (Application forms are included on the reverse of the poll card. Postal vote ballot packs will be sent out from 20 April.) Applications to vote by proxy must reach the council by 5pm on 28 April.

Polling stations across Thurrock for the two parliamentary seats - Thurrock, and South Basildon and East Thurrock - will be open from 7am to 10pm on Thursday, 7 May.

Local elections

The council is also reminding people that local elections for councillors will be running alongside the general election this year in 16 council wards.

Not every ward has a local election this year because the council is elected in thirds and there are several two-member wards.

This year there will be no local elections in wards: Little Thurrock Blackshots, Orsett, South Chafford, or Tilbury St Chad’s.