That is not quite the message one of the country s leading experts on electoral law and practice, Huntingdonshire District Council s chief executive, David Monks (right), is trying to get across tomorrow (May 3). The council is using advertisements on th

That is not quite the message one of the country's leading experts on electoral law and practice, Huntingdonshire District Council's chief executive, David Monks (right), is trying to get across tomorrow (May 3).

The council is using advertisements on the side of its fleet of dustcarts to remind people to use their vote in district, town and parish council elections.

As far as HDC is concerned, refuse collection and recycling - the district is one of the best in the country for re-using waste materials - is the only council service used by every one of Huntingdonshire's 160,000 residents.

Mr Monks said: "We believe we are one of the first councils in the country to use our refuse freighters in this way. They are out and about every day, going into every road and every street and are highly visible. They are an ideal medium to use to remind people to vote."

Nineteen of HDC's 52 seats are up for grabs, there are town and parish council elections in 10 of the district's parishes, including Huntingdon and St Neots Town Councils, and a Cambridgeshire County Council by-election in Little Paxton & St Neots North. Contested South Cambridgeshire wards include Bourn and Papworth & Elsworth. Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm. The counts will be on Friday May 4 - visit www.huntspost.co.uk for the election results.