AS hundreds of voters throughout Bolton were on Saturday seeking answers to the question: "Where are my postal ballot papers?" it was revealed a further 1,000 have gone missing in Aspull.

With only five days remaining to one of the most crucial elections in the history of Bolton Metropolitan Borough, residents are still waiting for their election forms to be delivered to their homes.

But, with council election chiefs confirming they have received more than 600 calls to their helpline from electors, the fear remained that they are not alone.

And, with Bolton Council election bosses revealing that all the ballot papers have been posted, and the Royal Mail confirming that everything sent to them has been delivered, voters were left wondering what has happened to their missing ballot papers.

More than 1,000 voters in Aspull are being told to go to the Town Hall if they want to take part in the elections after a ballot paper blunder.

The council blames the Royal Mail, insisting the postal service did not deliver the ballot packs.

But a Royal Mail spokeswoman told BBC News Online: "We have delivered all the packs we have received."

In a letter to the voters affected, deputy returning officer Brian Hayes accuses the Royal Mail of being "unable to deliver ballot packs".