QUEUES 140 people long were seen in parts of Swindon today as people turned up to cast their votes.

As the vote counters sat patiently waiting for the ballot papers to arrive back from the polling stations, the candidates and their teams paced anxiously up and down the sports hall at Oasis leisure centre.

Returning officer Steven Taylor said turnout this year was high.

“Feedback we have received from some wards is that there has been a very large turnout,” he said.

“Cars have been queuing, people were standing in queues 140 people long in some places.

“We are hoping that now 10pm has come, everybody queuing has been able to vote.

“If it's large turnout we are going to be here longer than expected.”

He said the electorate in Swindon North was 78,384 and in Swindon South it was 72,619, meaning there could be 151,000 votes to count.

That will double in Swindon as there is also the borough elections to count.

Mr Taylor said he was hoping to declare the results of the parliamentary elections by about 1.30am-1.45am.